History of Thurston County, Washington from 1845 to 1895

History of Thurston County, Washington from 1845 to 1895

by J. C. Rathbun
Editor of The Paladium

Published at Olympia, Washington, 1895

Transcribed June, 2000 by tenalquot [at] gmail [dot] com

Transcribed verbatim, including errors.
Unclear passages should be checked against an original copy.
Text in [brackets] inserted to aid searching

PREFACE.
It is customary for books to have a Preface or an Introduction or both.
Sometimes the author ought to write it, sometimes the publisher. Sometimes it
aids the reader to understand the motives and purpose of the publication;
sometimes it is an apology for the book's existence.
If the following pages need an Introduction it must of necessity be for
the benefit of those readers who have not read the series of articles on the
History of Thurston county as they have appeared in the Palladium during the
past year.
A few years ago the writer became cognizant of many important events that
had transpired at Olympia and in Thurston county that deserved to be preserved
for future use and reference. The further his researches extended the more he
became impressed with the importance of gathering from the pioneers that fund of
historic information which reposed largely in their memories. He speculated
that it is now comparatively easy to gather much historical matter which, a few
years hence, it would be impossible to gather at all.
While in this frame of mind he went to work, as his idle moments occurred
to accumulate in a connected way the many interesting events that have occurred
in Thurston county since its first settlement. In doing so, he doubtless
accumulated much matter that is unimportant and, as is to be expected, has
failed to obtain some that deserves to have a place in our local history. Nor
is this surprising but notwithstanding these imperfections he thinks his labors
will make easier the work of him who next puts forth effort on the same line and
also make a story that will be of interest to the residents of Thurston county
and to the many who did pioneer work here but have since made their homes in
other places.
Doubtless an explanation, some may call it an apology, might be made for
the mechanical appearance of the work. The only one at hand is this: as each
weekly article was published in the Palladium the type was taken to the job
printing room and a book form made up and printed. During the year several
pressman have had a hand at the work, which accounts for many imperfections that
the experienced pressman and bookmaker will readily detect.
The writer is under obligations to many old settlers who have favored him
with data but owing to their number he must forego the pleasure of mentioning
them in this connection.

J. C. R.
Olympia, Wash., December, 1895.

History of Thurston County Washington from 1845 to 1895

by J C Rathbun

p5 c1

THE OREGON QUESTION.
To properly appreciate the motives of and external influences surrounding
the first settlers north of the Columbia river and particularly in the region of
Puget Sound, it is necessary to refer briefly to that event known in American
history as the Oregon Question and to show how the Sound country came to be a
part of the United States, instead of a part of British America. It has been
stated in public addresses that the present state of Washington was acquired
from France as a part of the Louisiana purchase in 1804. The weight of authority
is against that proposition.
Nations acquire title to territory in one of four ways: (1) By immemorial
occupation; (2) by conquest; (3) by purchase

p5 c2

or gift, and (4) by discovery followed by occupation. The discovery of the mouth
of a river and the occupation of the territory give title, by the Law of Nations
to the territory drained by the river and its tributaries.
Applying the facts of history to these principles of -international law,
as the same bears upon the Puget Sound settlement, we find:
FIRST. In 1792 Vancouver, an English navigator entered and took possession
of the -sound country in the name Of his sovereign.
SECOND. In the same year Captain Robert Gray, of the ship Columbia, sent
out by a company of Boston merchants, entered the mouth of the great river on
the western coast of the United States and gave it the name of

p6 c1

his ship. Neither discovery was followed by occupation and no attention was paid
to them until 1804.
THIRD. In 1804 President Jefferson sent out two surveyors, Merriwether
Lewis and William Clark and in 1806 these men explored the country west of the
Rocky Mountains and down the Columbia river.
FOURTH. In 1811 John Jacob Astor, an American merchant, established a
trading post at Astoria.
FIFTH. In 1813, by the treachery of the manager of this post, the valuable
property was transferred to an English company and a British war sloop, took
possession, hoisted the British flag and changed the name to Fort George.
SIXTH. In 1814, by the treaty which concluded the War of 1812, this
property was ceded back to the united States. British fur and trading companies
however, continued to operate in this region and lost no opportunity to so shape
matters that they could regain possession of the territory.
Thus after the United States by Captain Gray had discovered the country in
1892; after it had been explored by the authority of the president; after a
citizen of the United States had established a trading post there; after it had
been acknowledged as belonging to the United States by a treaty which terminated
a war, yet the United States acknowledged that it did not know whether it owned
Oregon or not.
SEVENTH. In 1818 it agreed with Great Britain upon a joint occupancy of
the territory west of the Rocky Mountains in the following terms: "That any
country claimed by either party on the northwest coast of America, together with
its harbors, bays and creeks, and the navigation of all rivers within the same
be free and open for the term of ten years to the

p6 c2

subjects, citizens and vessels of the two powers."
This opened the country to the free movements of the British fur and
trading companies and England gained by diplomacy what belonged to the United
States through discovery and occupation.
EIGHTH. At the expiration of the ten years or in 1828 the treaty was
renewed for an indefinite period of time, terminable, however, on a years notice
by either party to the other. For present purposes it is not intended to go
into the details of events that transpired during those years. There were the
Hudson's Bay company, the Puget Sound Agricultural Company; there were
Speculators, Indians, priests, explorers and adventurers of all sorts. Troubles
were growing; murders were committed. Yet in spite of these, immigration was
turning westward.
NINTH. In 1844 the United States gave to England notice that it desired
to terminate the treaty of 1818 and in 1847 the forty-ninth parallel of latitude
was made the international boundary from the summit of the Rocky mountains to
the middle of the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island;
thence through the middle of said channel and of Fuca's straits to the Pacific.
The free navigation of the Columbia river was given to the Hudson's Bay company
and other British subjects. If the British government had any claim to the
Puget Sound basin through the discovery of Vancouver in 1792 it was surrendered
by this treaty of 1846.
Though not germain to present purposes, it might be added that subsequent
to the convention of 1846, England claimed that Rassario's strait was the
channel intended while the United States insisted upon Canal de Haro. Both are
deep sea channels and between lies the island of San Juan occupied by the
Hudson's Bay

p7 c1

Company. In 1858 the two governments agreed upon a joint occupancy of the
disputed island. By the convention of 1871 which was called to settle the
Alabama claims, the north-west boundary question was referred to Emperor William
of Germany for arbitration. The decision was in favor of the United States and
in November 1872 the British garrison was withdrawn. The disputed island is the
present county of San Juan of this state.

THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE.
Reference has been made to the Louisiana Purchase and a few facts
concerning that event are stated.
Four nations were concerned in the boundaries to Louisiana: France, who
was making the purchase, England who owned the country to the north and Spain
who owned the Floridas on the southeast and Texas and California on the
southwest. The south-western limit, in the treaty, was defined as "along the
main channel of the Sabine river from its mouth to the thirty-first parallel of
latitude: thence due north to Red river: thence up that stream to the one-
hundredth meridian of longitude; thence due north to the Arkansas river, thence
up that river to it's source; thence north along the crest of tile Rocky
Mountains to the forty-second parallel of latitude." The United States and
France, the parties to the deal, were willing the southern boundary should then
extend along that parallel to the Pacific. This was satisfactory to England but
Spain, who owned California, objected and the matter rested until 1819. In a
convention of that year, the United States made a concession relating to Texas,
and Spain yielded Florida and Oregon.
The decade of the 40's witnessed a tremendous immigration to the north-
west. The country was occupied by servants and employees of the Hudson's .Bay
Company. The latter established

p7 c2

forts and trading posts in different parts of the country, all tending to
establish an occupation of the country that would ultimately save it to the
British flag. They had twenty-three forts and five trading stations. At the
mouth of the Cowlitz they had a farm and small post and a more extensive farm
twenty-five miles up the river. At Vancouver they built a stockade. This fort
was the general depot for the southwestern branch of their system. Several of
their institutions were established east of the mountains. On Puget Sound was
Fort Nisqually, formerly a stockade. They also had two steamers with which they
entered the bays and rivers along the coast from Mexico to Russian America, now
Alaska, to subserve their interests. They had thoroughly explored the country
and knew its topography. There was little liklihood of immigration setting in
the Sound country except it entered by the way of Vancouver and the Cowlitz
river. By strategy and deception the occupants at Vancouver and Cowlitz sought
to turn the tide of immigration to the Willamette valley and to deter it from
Puget Sound. The Hudson's Bay people relied upon the near future to fix the
Columbia river as the boundary line between the United States and Great Britain
and looked jealously upon an effort to found homes north of that stream.

GENERAL HISTORY.
In the immigration of 1844 was a company from Missouri, destined for the
Rogue river valley in Southern Oregon. They came down the Columbia river and
camped at Washougal near Fort Vancouver. In the party was Michael T. Simmons
and George Bush with their families. They had been neighbors in Missouri.
George. Bush was a mulatto, but a man of true merit and sterling manhood. The
efforts of the Hudson's Bay people at

p8 c1

Vancouver to keep people from going to the Sound country had its effect upon
Simmons and with his true Americanism and inherent combativeness he proposed to
resent the interference of the Britishers and to fight his way to Puget Sound.
The provisional government of Oregon had passed a law excluding from the
territory all free negroes and mulattoes. George Bush concluded that the Rogue
river valley was no place for him and that, should the Sound Country ultimately
become Britain or American, so long as the British claim prevailed, his color
would not deter him from asserting his manhood nor deprive him of the protection
of her institutions.
In December 1844, Col. Simmons, who had been designated by the company as
the one to make a reconnaissance of the Sound country, started in company with
Messrs. Loomis, Williamson and three brothers, John, Henry and James Owens.
They travelled up the Cowlitz to the forks when their provisions became short
and the navigation of the stream discouraging. The Colonel, however, who had a
fair share of superstition in his nature, said afterwards that he really turned
his face "homewards" because of a vision he had before leaving Missouri,
indicating that he would find just such a place as the Forks of the Cowlitz, and
be compelled to abandon his enterprise. In that place he saw mapped out the
spot which appeared to him in his dream.
Colonel Simmons, on his return, determined to resume the exploration at a
more fitting season. This he did, but none of the others attempted the journey
again.
In April 1845, while at Washougal, Mrs. Simmons gave birth to a son,
Christopher C., the first white American child born North and West of the

p8 c2

Columbia river, and the first white male child within the confines of the
present State of Washington. The first white American child born in Washington
was a daughter of Mrs. Marcus Whitman, at Wailatpu, in the present county of
Walla Walla, several miles east of the Columbia river.
In July, 1845, Colonel Simmons again started from the Columbia for Puget
Sound, accompanied by George Wanch afterwards a settler near Skookumchuck,
William Shaw (father of Colonel B. P. Shaw, of Vancouver, the famous Indian
fighter) and seven others, none of whom, however, settled in the country, save
Simmons and Wanch.
Colonel Simmons and party upon reaching the Cowlitz prairie, procured the
services of Peter Bercier, as guide and started for the Sound. It is proper to
add that they learned at this point that John R. Jackson had been in the
vicinity just before, and being pleased with the country had made a location and
was then upon his return to Oregon City for his stock and effects. Thus, it
will be observed, that while Colonel Simmons had essayed, in the winter of 1844-
5, the first exploration with a view to settlement, that John R. Jackson had
made the first location. For both of these old settlers the claim of "Pioneer"
has been asserted.
Colonel Simmons and party reached the shores of Puget Sound in August and
obtaining canoes, went down the Sound examining the various points, passed
around the north end of Whidby's Island, returning through Deception Pass came
back on the East side of that island. The party having returned to the Columbia
river, Colonel Simmons and his family were joined by James McAllister and
family, David Kindred and family, Gabriel Jones and family, George Bush and
family and Messrs. Jesse Ferguson and Samuel B. Crockett. Peter Bercier again
acting as guide and conducting

p9 c1:

through the first American colony on Puget Sound.
These hardy frontiersmen were fifteen days cutting out the road from
Cowlitz Landing to Tumwater, a distance of fifty-eight miles, where they arrived
late in October, 1845. Colonel Simmons took the claim at Tumwater, calling it
New Market, while all who accompanied him made settlement in the vicinity,
principally on what has ever since been known as Bush Prairie. This was the
first settlement in Thurston county.
Notwithstanding that the Hudson's Bay people at Fort Vancouver made
strenuous efforts to discourage the American colonization, north of the
Columbia, yet, in September, 1840, when the little band of pioneers under
Simmons started for the Sound country, Dr. McLaughlin and Governor Douglas gave
an order on Messrs. Forrest and Tolmie- the former in charge of the Cowlitz
stations and the latter at Fort Nisqually- to furnish the party on credit with
two hundred bushels of wheat, at eighty cents; one hundred bushels of peas, at
one dollar; three hundred bushels of potatoes, at fifty cents; and ten or twelve
head of beef cattle, at twelve dollars per head.
The claim taken as Kindred's on the edge of Bush Prairie, as the timber
skirting the city of Olympia is entered, was the first built upon in 1845.
During the next summer Colonel Simmons himself built.
On March 15, 1846, Mrs. James McAllister gave birth to a son (James
Benton), the first-born of the Puget Sound Settlement.
In the summer of 1846, Sidney S. Ford, Senior, and family, and, Joseph
Borst, settled at the confluence of the Skookumchuck and Chehalis rivers, half-
way between Cowlitz Landing and New Market.
A. M. Poe, Daniel T. Kinsey. A. B. Rabbeson, Charles Eaton, Levi L.

p9 c2:

Smith and Edmund Sylvester arrived early in October and all made permanent
settlements. Messrs. Smith and Sylvester were in partnership, and under the
partnership clause of the land law of Oregon, each located half-sections of
land, the former making his residence upon what is now the City of Olympia, and
designating it Smithfield. Mr. Sylvester took up the claim on the edge of
Chamber's Prairie, better known as the Dunham Donation Claim. Mr. Eaton made
the Pioneer. settlement on Chamber's Prairie proper.
Shortly afterwards, and during the same month, the Sound country was
visited by Elisha and William Packwood, Jackson Peters, Dr. Thomas Canby, and
Elisha and James McKindly, who examined the region and returned to the
Willamette valley to winter.
This year, 1846, also marked the erection of a grist mill at New Market
by Col. Simmons, in which he ground wheat, but did not attempt to bolt it.
The return made by John R. Jackson, the first Assessor of Lewis County,
for the year 1846, exhibits the following as it's produce: oats, nine thousand
two hundred and fifty bushels; peas, four thousand four hundred and seventy-five
bushels: potatoes, five thousand seven hundred and sixty bushels. Of course the
greater portion of these products was grown by the Puget Sound Agricultural
company, on their claims at Cowlitz and Nisqually, but it goes to show that the
settlers had already begun in earnest to cultivate the country and raise the
means to live.
In January, 1847, Messrs. Davis and family, Samuel Cool, A. J. Moore,
Benjamin Gordon, Thomas W. Glasgow, Samuel Hancock and Leander C. Wallace
arrived at New Market and made settlement in the neighborhood.
In March, 1847, the brothers Packwood,

p10 c1:

Elisha and William, returned with their families. Elisha P. located on the claim
now owned by David J. Chambers, where he remained until August, when he returned
to the Willamette valley. His brother William settled permanently in the
country.
At the organization of the Provisional Government of Oregon in July, the
territory North of the Columbia river formed a single county known as Vancouver
District. Sir James Douglas, M. T. Simmons and James Forrest, were the first
County Commissioners, or County judges. Lewis county was organized by act of
the Oregon House of Representatives, approved December 25, 1845, to go into
effect after the June election of 1846 and embraced all of the territory lying
North of the Columbia river and West of the Cowlitz river. At the June
election, Doctor W. F. Tolmie, of Nisqually, was elected the first
Representative. The county continued of the limits defined in the act creating
it, until the treaty of June 15, 1846, made the forty-ninth parallel the
Northern boundary of Oregon.
At the time to which we have traced the settlement (spring, 1847), this
region had already attained importance in Oregon politics. Indeed, the vote of
Lewis county determined the election of the Governor of Oregon at the last
gubernatorial election held, under the Provisional Government. The contest
between Governor George Abernethy, nominated for re-election, and General A. L.
Lovejoy, was extremely close. The other counties were in; and the vote stood,
for Abernethy, four hundred and seventy-seven; for Lovejoy, five hundred and
eighteen; Lewis county, last to be heard from, gave sixty-one for Abernethy and
two for Lovejoy, changing the result, and re-electing the former by a plurality
of sixteen. Simon Plemondon was sent to the House of Representatives

p10 c2:

and A. M. Poe, elected sheriff.
In the summer, A. D. Carnefix, J. B. Logan and Frank Shaw (the Col. Shaw
of the Indian War of 1855-6), arrived.
On June 10, 1847, Mrs. Sidney S. Ford, gave birth to a daughter
(afterwards Mrs. John Shelton), the first American girl born North and West of
the Columbia. Here, too, is another indication of progress- the first given in
marriage in the little colony; "Married at New Market, Puget Sound, at the
house of Mr. Davis, on the 6th of July, by Judge Simmons, Mr. Daniel P. Kinsey
to Miss Ruth Brock, of the former place."
In July, Messrs. Samuel Hancock and A. B. Rabbeson were employed by Simon
Plemondon to build a brick kiln on his farm at Cowlitz. These were the first
brick made and, we believe used North of the Columbia. In August, Colonel
Simmons, Frank Shaw, E. Sylvester, Jesse Ferguson, A. B. Rabbeson, Gabriel
Jones, A. D. Carnefix and John Kindred formed themselves into a company for the
purpose of erecting a saw mill at New Market named the Puget Sound Milling
company. The date of the lease from, Colonel Simmons, proprietor of the claim,
is August 20, 1847, the lease to continue for five years with the privilege of
ten. The site described was the northwest part of the Lower Falls. On August
24th, the trail between Smithfield (Olympia) and the Falls was blazed. out. On
the same date the Puget Sound Milling Company completed its organization by the
election of Colonel Simmons, Superintendent, and upon the following day
commenced the erection of the mill, which was completed during the winter
months.
In the latter part of the fall (1847) the settlement was strengthened by
the arrival of Thomas M. Chambers, with his sons David Andrew, Thomas J. and
McLean, and the families of the

p11 c1:

two first; also Messrs. Brail and Geo. Shazer.

1848-9.
At the election of 1848 (the last held in Lewis county under the
Provisional Government) A. B. Rabbeson was elected sheriff and Levi Lathrop
Smith Representative to the Oregon Provisional Legislature. The latter never
entered upon his duties. Late in the month of August, while going to New Market
in a canoe, Mr. Smith was seized with an epileptic fit and in this helpless
condition was drowned. This was the first death of an American in the
settlement.
Sheets of a diary left by the deceased show that the disease, to which he
had long been subject, preyed upon his spirits, and his dreamy loneliness, so
often referred to and graphically portrayed in his melancholy record, excites
warmest sympathy. He was a man of considerable culture, a genial
conversationalist and of refined sensibility. His recorded thoughts amid his
desolation, and oft-repeated discouragement, exhibit him as a religious
enthusiast, passionately grateful to Providence for the occasional revival from
gloom and the temporary enjoyment of renewed health between the attacks of
disease. His journal bears testimony to the attentive kindness of his partner,
Mr. Sylvester, Who passed as much time with him as the labors on the farm would
admit, and when he is unable. to chronicle that "Sylvester was at home today,"
such recitals as this appear: "The first canoe today has just passed;" "nothing
Stirring;, "not even an Indian has been seen today."
How like a vision the scene must have appeared that beautiful October
morning when he came down from New Market and gazed for the first time upon the
enchanting view spread out before him! Stretching off to the north the placid
waters of the beautiful

p11 c2

bay, its shores lined with the primeval forests; in the back ground the white
peaks of the Olympics, to the right the grand old Rainier - while all around
were the gigantic forests of fir and cedar! What wonder that his soul swelled
with the grandeur of the occasion! And to contemplate that this scene, in all
its magnificence, was his for the taking! Could man more proudly plan the site
for a future city? But fate willed otherwise and through those inscrutable ways
of Providence the headwaters of that little bay pass to history with a name, a
glory and a prestige that almost hides the memory of its first beholder.
Shortly after Mr. Smith's decease Sylvester abandoned the prairie claim
and became the permanent occupant of Smithfield. It is proper to add here that
the 'partnership clause' of the land law of the Oregon provisional government
authorized the occupancy of claims by each partner for the common benefit of the
firm. Thus while Smith resided on the "Smithfield claim," Sylvester owned an
equal interest in it; Smith enjoyed the same relation to the prairie farm. Mr.
Sylvester as survivor succeeded to the right of the firm and became the sole
possessor of the claim, now the site of the city of Olympia. Here he built the
first hotel. It was of logs, 16x24 feet, containing two rooms. Guests were
accommodated on bunks in the attic.
On June 14, 1848, Rev. Pascal Ricard with a small party of Oblat
missionaries, established the mission of St. Joseph on the East side of Budd's
Inlet, about a mile North of Sylvester's claim. Shortly after, Samuel Hancock
located the claim on the West side of the inlet, subsequently occupied by Konrad
Schneider, and built a warehouse and wharf.
At the time. summer 1848, there was but one grain cradle North of the
Columbia

p12 c1

which was the property of Jesse Ferguson. Messrs. Ferguson and Rabbeson
concluded to go to the Cowlitz farms and put in the season cradling wheat, but
the French settlers scouted the idea that grain could be saved in any other way
than with the sickle; but as laborers were few and crops heavy the experiment
was permitted by old Simon Plemondon, so much to the satisfaction of himself and
others, that the cradling party had all the work they could perform that
harvest.
On August 14, 1848, the act of Congress establishing the Territorial
government of Oregon was approved. The territory thus acquired included all the
Pacific possessions of the United States North to the thirty-second parallel,
the northern boundary being the line fixed by the treaty of June 15, 1846,
between Great Britain and the United States.
It was during this fall that the so called Puget Sound Agricultural
Company conceived the idea of making claim under the treaty to the immense tract
called the Nisqually claim. At that time they proposed to set a title to land
South of the Nisqually river and with that view drove a large herd of cattle
across the stream. On learning this the American residents called a meeting,
over which Colonel Isaac N. Ebey, who had just arrived in the country, presided.
Messrs. A. B. Rabbeson and Jesse Ferguson were appointed a committee to wait on
Dr. W. F. Tolmie, agent of the company, and protest against such an act. One
week's time was allowed the corporation to remove their stock to the north side
of the river, the present dividing line between the counties of Pierce and
Thurston. The demand of the settlers was complied with and the claim of the
Puget Sound Company limited to the demand of all the valuable portion of present
Pierce county.

p12 c2

As soon as the gold discoveries in California had become known in Oregon
there was a general rush of the male population to the mines. Many abandoned
their farms neglecting to sow or put in crops; many of those who had taken that
precaution failed to return until after the harvest.
Thus, to a great extent the labors of this season were materially
valueless. While money and "dust" became plentiful, improvements were
suspended; no buildings were erected; the mills stood idle; all industrial
pursuits stagnated and the prices of labor and produce advanced to exorbitant
rates. While it is doubtless true that the development of the great mineral
wealth to California attracted the world's attention to the Pacific coast,
hastened its settlement, opened new avenues of commerce, materially added to the
wealth of the world and almost revolutionized trade, yet it cannot be denied
that the California gold stampede of 1848-49 was a most grievous check to the
healthy growth of Oregon Territory. The great exodus of this year was a notable
event in in history and it required years of steady, sober advancement and
industry to recuperate from its consequences.
Notice has already been taken of the Oregon Organic Act, approved August
14, 1848. Contemporaneous with its passage, General Joseph Lane had been
appointed governor and ex officio Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and he with
Joseph L. Meek, the first United States Marshal, crossed the plains, reaching
Oregon City, March 2, 1849. General John Adair, Collector at Astoria,
established as a port of entry by the same act, arrived by sea at his post in
the latter part of the same month. Hon. William P. Bryant Chief Justice; Peter
H. Burnett (afterward the first Governor of the State of California,)

p13 c1

and James Turney constituted the Supreme Court but of these the Chief Justice
alone accepted the appointment. William A. Hall was commissioned in place of
Mr. Turney, September 1, 1848 but resigned November 22nd when Hon. 0. C. Pratt
was appointed. Governor Lane issued his proclamation May 13th, dividing the
territory into Judicial districts and assigning the Judges. The county of
Vancouver with several counties south of the Columbia, constituted the first
judicial district to which was assigned Chief justice Bryant; to the second
lying wholly south of the Columbia, was assigned Hon. 0. C. Pratt; Lewis County
alone constituted the Third Judicial district, and to it there was no judge to
assign. Although within an organized territory of the United States, yet not an
official clothed with federal or military authority was present north of the
Columbia river, to afford protection or confidence to its growing settlements.
In the winter of 1849, Messrs. Ebey, Shaw, Moore, Jackson and Sylvester
bought the brig Orbit. She arrived at Olympia January 1, 1850 where she loaded a
cargo of piles for San Francisco, Col. Simmons afterward purchasing the interest
of Jackson. This was the first American vessel owned by Washington Territory
residents hailing from Olympia, Puget Sound.
By proclamation of Governor Lane, the country north of the Columbia,
together with Clatsop county (now in Oregon) south, constituted a Council as
well as a Representative district. At the election provided for by said
proclamation, the first under the territorial organization, Samuel T. McKean of
Clatsop, and Michael T. Simmons of Lewis were elected first Councilman and
Representative respectively. This Assembly convened at Oregon City, July, 1849,
and continued in session one hundred days.

p13 c2:

THE INDIANS.
The history of all settlements in the New World begins with relations with
the Indians; sometimes this relation has been peaceful and pleasant but oftener
stormy and troublesome. The settlement at the head of Puget Sound is no
exception. From the time that Col. Simmons and his party blazed their trail
from the Cowlitz to New Market, the growth of the colony and the march of
improvement have been the outcome of a conflict, either peaceful or stormy, with
the copper colored sons of the forest.
In contemplating, the history of the Sound country and the Indian as he
plays a part in that history, numerous queries relating to the aboriginal force
themselves on the historians' attention. Their origin., their manners, their
customs, their language, their religions, their business habits, their family
relations - all arise in the mind and a dissertation on each topic, though
interesting, would be rather foreign to present purpose.
The origin of the American Indian is a subject of speculation and
research. That they belong to the older races of mankind is not doubted. But
neither their history nor the circumstances or date of their advent to the New
World has revealed itself to delvers in prehistoric realms. Theories have been
advanced and traced; but they still remain theories.
The legends of the Indians themselves shed no light. Ask them concerning
their origin and the answer is: "Sackaly tyee mamock nasika" (man on high made
us.) This statement, too, embodies the most of their religious sentiments. The
Indian language is an interesting study but it too is outside our present
intentions. Their vocabulary is a limited one: the tone the accent and the
facial expression very largely taking the place of words.

p14 c1:

The American Indian belongs to several distinct families or nations, and
these again are composed of tribes. West of the Rocky Mountains were four
nations; the Shoshones, the Selish, the Klamaths and the Californians. The
present state of Washington was occupied by the Selish.
The tribes of each nation were similar in the main although differences
existed in their language but not of such character as to prevent intercourse
among them.
The present language of the Puget Sound Indians is a jargon, compiled and
introduced among the Indians by a trader at Astoria and was subsequently adopted
by the Hudson's Bay Company at their trading stations and became the common
trading language with the Indian Tribes.
In the spring of 1848 Thomas W. Glascow visited Whidby Island and took the
claim known as Ebey's Landing, opposite Port Townsend. He erected his cabin,
planted wheat and potatoes, then returned to New Market and induced Carnefix and
Rabbeson to accompany him to his new home. They determined to explore Hood's
canal on their voyage thither, and went by canoe to the head of Skookum bay and
from thence carried their bark over the portage to the head of the former. Here
they found Indians in large numbers, many of whom had never seen a white man.
While camped at the month of the Skokomish river, it was the turn of Carnefix to
cook and attend to camp-work. An old Indian chief seeing this, concluded Mr.
Carnefix must be a slave and so expressed a desire to purchase him, offering a
large number of skins, muskets, blankets and two Indian henchmen. His
companions joked Carnefix so much on this would-be commercial transaction that
he abandoned the trip and came back. Glasgow and Rabbeson continued their
exploration

p14 c2:

by themselves, and finally arrived in July at Glasgow's house on the island.
They had not long been there when there assembled a Grand Council of the Puget
Sound tribes of Indians, invited by Patkanim, chief of the Snoqualmie nations,
to discuss the propriety of resisting the further progress of American
settlements. The proceedings commenced with a grand hunt. A net or corral was
built of willow brush, with wings stretching across the island from the head of
Penn's Cove to what is now called Ebey's Landing. A drive was made with ,dogs,
and upwards of sixty deer secured for the feast. Next the council assembled and
many speeches were made. Patkanim urged that if the Americans were allowed to
settle in the country they would soon outnumber the Indians, and that the latter
would be transported in fire-ships to a distant country where the sun never
shone and there left to die; that they could easily exterminate the few now in
the country, which would discourage others from coming; by the death of these
here the Indians would acquire a large amount of property. The last argument he
dwelt upon with great earnestness. The Upper Sound Indians, who had lived among
the whites, strenuously resisted any hostile movement. Sno-ho-dum-tah,
principal chief of the Indian bands above New Market, familiarly known to the
settlers as "Old Gray-Head, was the champion of peace. He said that before the
advent of the Americans, it was common for the strong tribes on the Lower Sound
to make war upon the weaker, carry off their people and enslave them; but now
the presence of the white man afforded them security and discouraged such wars;
that they had found the "Boston" (the Indian word for distinguishing an American
from a British subject, called by them "King George,")

p15 c1

was just and honorable in all his dealings. This refusal on the part of the
upper sound Indians created great excitement and nearly provoked a conflict on
the council ground. Rabbeson became alarmed and fled the settlement, while two
days afterwards Glasgow was compelled to abandon everything and only by the
assistance of a friendly Indian did he effect his escape.
It was fortunate for the little settlement that they recognized rules
governing intercourse or trade with the Indians. The latter were to be
protected in their rights. A complaint of injustice at the hands of a white man
was investigated, A uniform price was established for every thing in trade and
labor, while it was the general understanding among the citizens that a white
man was to respect his contract.
In illustration may be mentioned the case of an immigrant of 1847.
Accompanied by his family he arrived at the month of the Cowlitz river destitute
of funds. An Indian named Tenas Tyee, who was then engaged in forwarding
immigrants up that stream, brought the immigrant family up to the Landing,
agreeing to take a paper for the passage money and wait twelve Moons. Tenas
Tyee held the note till it fell due and then waited upon the white man, but he
not having the money, the Indian agreed to take a heifer in discharge of the
debt, which offer was declined. Tenas Tyee came over to the Sound and
complained to the settlers. A meeting was called, a committee of two was
appointed to return with him, and they compelled the debtor to liquidate the
debt by turning over the stock which the Indian accepted in satisfaction of his
demand.
In the latter part of April, or during the first days of May, 1849, an
event occurred which hastened the advent of the United States troops. A party
of

p15 c2:

Snoqualmie Indians made an attack on the Hudson Bay Company's Fort Nisqually.
This tribe were in the habit of visiting the fort in small numbers, for
the purposes of trade but upon this occasion they were in force, their object
being to settle a dispute with the Indians of the Nisqually tribe. On the
trial, their number was variously estimated, Doctor Tolmie says over one
hundred, while Walter Ross, clerk of the fort, gave it at one hundred and fifty.
Patkanim, head chief of the tribe, consisting of several bands, was within the
fort engaged with Doctor Tolmie, agent in charge. The gates had been closed and
all the other Indians had been excluded. Just outside the stockade were Leander
C. Wallace, Mr. Lewis and Mr. Walker, three Americans on a visit to the fort,
and Charles Wren, who had but shortly before come in from an Indian camp. The
Snoqualmies, led by Kussass, brother to Patkanim, and Quallahwowt, another sub-
chief, were armed and painted as a war party, and made other hostile
demonstrations. Wallace and his companions, seeing their danger, kept their
faces toward the advancing Indians and retreated hastily to the gates. Wren
reached it and stood with his back against it trying to edge in. Walter Ross,
with two Indians guarded the gate on the inside and refuse to open it. The
Indian guard, about this time discharged his gun in the air for the purpose of
emptying it before reloading which act the Snoqualmies pretended to interpret as
a defiance. Kussass advanced, fired and killed Wallace on the spot. Wren and
his companions made another effort to get inside, and as they passed through the
gate a volley rang forth wounding Lewis and Walker as well as an Indian boy who
stood within. The last survived but a short time. The bastions were then
manned, a volley

p16 c1:

fired and the Indians hastily retreated. Mr. Wallace was the first American
killed by the natives on Puget Sound of which there is any record. Upon the
tidings of this outbreak reaching him, Governor Lane visited Puget Sound,
arriving at New Market, May 17th, and being there advised of the arrival at Fort
Vancouver of two companies First Artillery, United States Army, he immediately
returned to that post. In June Fort Vancouver was occupied as a permanent
military post by a company of the First Artillery, Major J. S. Hathaway
commanding. In July Company M, First Artillery, Captain Bennet H. Hill, was
dispatched to the Sound and August 27th, he established a military post at Fort
Steilacoom.
Shortly after, Hon. J. Quinn Thornton, sub-Indian agent for the district
of Oregon North of the Columbia,. visited the Indian tribes on the Sound and
after an interview with Patkanim, on his return, September 7, 1848, authorized
Captain Hill to pay eighty blankets for the delivery of the murderers of Wallace
within three weeks, if not by that time the reward might be doubled. The
superintendent (Governor Lane) took very strong exception to this course of the
sub-agent, very properly construing that such acts of outrage should be visited
by a punishment instead of a premium. But before Governor Lane could
countermand the offer or initiate the proper steps for the chastisement of the
tribe in the event of their refusal to surrender the guilty parties, Patkanim
had delivered up six Snoqualmie Indians, charged to be the murderers, to Captain
Hill, who had duly paid the reward purchasing the blankets from Fort Nisqually
at the price of four hundred and eighty dollars.
The news of the surrender of these Indians for trial reached Oregon City
while the Legislative Assembly (the

p16 c2:

first under the Territorial Government) was in session. This body at once
passed an act attaching Lewis county to the First Judicial district and provided
for a special term of court at Steilacoom, to be held by Chief Justice Bryant on
the first Monday of October.
The court convened on the first of October-the first United States court
held North of the Columbia river.
Captain Hill delivered to the United States Marshal, Kussaas, Quallahwowt,
Sterhawai, Tatam, Whyeek and Quarlthumkyne, all of the Snoqualmie tribe and
surrendered by their chief as participants in the attack on Fort Nisqually. All
were indicted for the murder of Leander C. Wallace. The prosecution was
conducted by Judge Alonzo A. Skinner and the court assigned David Stone Esq.,
then prosecuting attorney of the Third Judicial district to defend the
prisoners. Kusass and Quallahwowt, both chiefs and ringleaders in the foray,
were convicted, the remaining four being acquitted. At the execution the next
day, October 3rd, of the two murderers, the whole tribe was present besides a
vast gathering of other Indians. The occasion was embraced to teach the natives
that the law would be rigorously enforced against those who committed outrages
upon the white settlers or their property; while, it is also interesting to
note, that so sparse were the settlements at this time, that several of the
jurors traveled over two hundred miles from their homes to reach the place of
holding court.

OLYMPIA.
In 1850, E. Sylvester laid off and dedicated the Smithfield claim as a
town, giving it the name of Olympia, at the suggestion of Charles Hart Smith, of
the firm of Simmons & Smith, who had established, that summer, a store in the
town near the corner

p17 c1:

of First and Main Streets. The beautiful snow capped mountains of the Olympia
or Coast range, which constitutes the background of the scene enjoyed upon a
clear day, looking northward from the city, suggested the name.
The mercantile operations of the little community were of the most
primitive character. The first store dealt only in necessaries and such
trinkets as found favor with the Indians. The counter was a rough table sided,
up with rough plank and like most household furniture was fearfully and
wonderfully made.
But during the two or three years that elapsed since Smith first saw
Olympia or Smithfield considerable of a traffic had grown up. The advent of
George A. Barnes, however, in the fall of 1852, with a stock of general
merchandise marked a change in the character of the transactions and was the
beginning of commerce on Puget Sound. Mr. Barnes' first store was on the water
front at the west end of First street
Stores were also managed by Parker Coulter & Co., A. J. Moses, L. Bettman,
Goldman & Rosenblatt, and Louisson & Co. Trade was mostly with the Indians,
several hundred of them living on the eastern shore of the west arm of the bay.
Their section was called Chinook street, and their central wigwam was near the
present site of the Carlton House.
Congress established the Puget Sound Collection District February 14,
1851, and a Customs House was located during the year at Olympia, then the only
town on Puget Sound. On the third of November, 1851, the sloop Georgianna,
Captain Rowland, sailed with twenty-two passengers for Queen Charlotte's Island
where gold had been discovered. Among those who chartered this sloop were Wm.
Billings,

p17 c2:

S. D. Howe, Charles Weed, S. S. Ford, Samuel Williams, J. Colvig and the Sargent
Brothers, Asher, Wilson and Nelson. On the 19th the vessel was cast ashore on
the east side of the island, was plundered by the Indians, and the crew and
passengers held in captivity. Upon receipt of the news, the Collector of
Customs at Olympia, dispatched the Damariscove, Captain Balch, with a force of
volunteers and United States troops from Fort Steilacoom. The schooner sailed
December 18th, and returned to Olympia with the rescued men the last day of
January, 1852.
In 1852, a superior article of coal was found, something much needed on
the coast, and capital was at once invested in developing the mines. Three saw
mills were built on the Sound, and during the year quite extensive shipments of
coal, lumber and fish were made. Many claims were taken up on the fine
agricultural lands, and all the elements for a vigorous growth were collected.
The chief settlements then in Northern Oregon were, Pacific City, Vancouver, the
Hudson Bay Company's headquarters, consisting of a hundred houses occupied by
its employees, chiefly Kanakas, inclosed by picket fences, and defended by armed
bastions; Forts Walla Walla, Okanagan and Colville, further up the Columbia;
Olympia, the new town on the Sound; Fort Nisqually on the Sound, occupied by the
Puget Sound Agricultural Company, besides shipping products to the Sandwich
Islands and the Russian post at Sitka. These, with many settlements along the
Sound and between it and the Columbia formed a section distinct from Oregon
proper, with which they had no community of interest, and from whom, being in
the minority in the legislature, they were unable to obtain many of the rights
they deemed themselves entitled to. Many of them were five

p18 c1:

hundred miles from the seat of the Territorial Government.
During the years the Hudson's Bay people were operating in the Columbia
valley and Puget Sound basin a rather considerable population for those times
had gathered here, and in 1845 as has been stated Lewis county was created by
the Oregon legislature embracing the territory north of Cowlitz county. In 1850
the number of inhabitants north of the Columbia river was three hundred four and
one hundred eighty of them were citizens.
In 1851 Pacific county was created.
In 1852 it was proposed to create a new county out of Lewis, the same to
include the vast basin lying west of the cascade mountains and north of the
Cowlitz divide. When the bill to create the county was first reported it was
proposed to name the county Simmons, but the sad death of Samuel R. Thurston,
which occurred the spring before and a general disposition among the people of
Oregon to perpetuate his memory, suggested his name for the new county.
Samuel R. Thurston was born in 1816 and graduated at Bowdoin college,
Mass. in 1843. He settled in Iowa in 1845 and in 1847 crossed the plains to
Oregon. He was a Democrat but elected to congress as an opponent of the Hudson
Bay Company. While returning home from the federal capital by way of Cape Horn
he was taken sick and died at sea April 9, 1851, between Panama and Acapulco.
His remains were buried at the latter place.
By authority of the legislature of Oregon they were exhumed and brought to
Salem and a marble monument erected to his memory. On one side was the
inscription: "THURSTON. Erected by the people of Oregon." On another, his name,
age an date of his death, on a third side this sentiment: "Here rests Oregon's
delegate, a man of genius and learning, a

p18 c2:

lawyer and a statesman, his Christian virtues equaled by his wide philanthropy,
his public acts are his best eulogium."
At a time when his virtues and untimely death were uppermost in the minds
of his people the proposition to perpetuate his name and memory by connecting it
with the new Sound county met with a ready response and Thurston was adopted.

COUNTY ORGANIZED.
The year 1852 marks the beginning of organized government on Puget Sound.
The act that created the county provided for holding an election to choose
county officers. The election was held in June 1852 at which A. J. Simmons was
elected sheriff, A. M. Poe, county clerk; D. A. Bigelow, treasurer; R. S.
Bailey, assessor; Edmund Sylvester, Coroner; A. A. Denny, S. S. Ford Sr. and
David Shelton, county commissioners.
On July 5th the board of county commissioners convened at the office of A.
M. Poe in the town of Olympia. Arthur A. Denny and David Shelton were present
and took the oath of office and appointed D. R. Bigelow clerk of the board pro
tempore. This done the board adjourned to the next day.
On the 6th A. J. Simmons, sheriff, was present and the bonds of A. M. Poe
as county clerk, D. R. Bigelow. county treasurer and R. S. Bailey, assessor,
were approved. David Shelton was designated as presiding judge of the county
commissioners court.
The following precincts were established:
Scadget Precinct: To include Whidby's Island and all islands north to the
northern boundary of the United States.
Port Townsend precinct: The territory north of Hood's Canal on the west
side of the Sound.
Dewamps precinct: The territory

p19 c1:

east of Puget Sound and north of the Puyallup river and all south of Hood's
canal to the parallel of the north parallel of the Puyallup river on the west
side of the Sound.
Steilacoom precinct: The territory north of the Nisqually river to the
Puyallup on the east side of Puget Sound and all thence due west to the mouth of
the Nesqually river to the parallel of the mouth of the Puyallup.
Olympia precinct: The territory south of Steilacoom precinct.
The entire county was then a school district in Lewis county. At this
session of the board David Shelton, Whitfield Kirtley and Geo. A. Barnes, as
,directors of school district No. 2, represented that the district had been
organized and asked that boundaries be established which was granted. Dewamish
precinct was designated as district No. 5; Scadget precinct as No. 6; Port
Townsend precinct as district No. 7. The remainder of Olympia precinct after
taking out district No. 2 was designated as No. 1.
Commissioners Denny and Shelton drew lots for length of terms. Mr. Ford
being absent was given the long term of three years; Mr. Denny drew the term of
one year and Mr. Shelton that of two years.
Wm. Coulter was granted a grocer's license for six month's and Edmund
Sylvester one for three months. On July 7th the board adjourned to the first
Monday in September.
At the fall meeting William Packwood asked for a school district between
Olympia and Steilacoom, which was granted.
Mr. Packwood was also granted a license for a ferry across the Nesqually
river, for which he paid one dollar.
Road districts were created and residents in each district were designated
to work the roads in that district.
The tax levy for that year was fixed

p19 c2:

at: 4 mills for county revenue, 1 1/2 mills for the school fund, 1 1/2 mills
territorial fund and $1 poll tax. The total valuation of the county was
$124,602. The tax was collected by the assessor at the time of making the
assessment. T. F. McElroy and Geo. Barnes were appointed justices of the peace
for Olympia precinct.
The first school in the county was taught this summer by D. L. Phillips.
Lewis county was a part of the Third judicial district and the First term
of court held at Olympia was a special term called to try seizures that had been
made by the collector of customs. At this term of the court Elwood Evans, D. B.
Bigelow, Quincy A. Brooks and S. B. Moses were admitted to practice law.
The summer of 1852 was a prosperous one for the new community. Coal was
discovered in the Skookumchuck valley. A steady stream of immigration was
flowing toward the Sound country and many claims of fine agricultural lands were
taken on the prairies and in the valleys adjacent to the head of Budd's Inlet.
The Willamette Valley in Oregon was also attracting attention and
considerable rivalry existed between that fertile section and the equally
enticing region about Puget Sound.
In the summer of 1852 a newspaper outfit was brought over from Portland by
T. F. McElroy and J. W. Wiley and the first number of the Columbian issued on
September 11. It received a liberal supply of advertising from the beginning.
Both Portland and San Francisco patronized its columns.
The paper took a, pronounced position for the development of the Sound
country and at once agitated the question of a division of Oregon by the
formation of a new territory north of the Columbia river.
At a term of the district court held at the house of J. R. Jackson in
Lewis

p20 c1:

county a convention was called to meet at Monticello on the last Thursday in
November to memorialize Congress for a new territory.
Monticello, then an important town, it being on the direct route to the
Sound from the Columbia, was located on the Cowlitz, not far from the present
site of Kalama.
Delegates to the Monticello convention were elected from each county those
from Thurston, elected at a mass convention being M. T. Simmons, S. D. Ruddle,
S. P. Moses, Adam Wyle, Q. A. Brooks and C. H. Hale.
The New Territory convention met at Monticello November 25, 1852.
A memorial to Congress was prepared; stating the condition of this region
and asking that body to create the Territory of Columbia out of that portion of
Oregon lying North and West of the Columbia river. There was no conflict in the
matter between the two sections of Oregon, the people of Oregon south of the
river raising no objection to the proposed new territory.
In November 1852, Hon. Columbia Lancaster of Vancouver resigned his seat
in the legislative Council and by common consent D. R. Bigelow of Olympia and A.
A. Denny of Seattle, both of Thurston county, were fixed upon as candidates to
fill the vacancy. Concerning the candidates the Columbian said, "Mr. Bigelow is
known to the citizens of Northern Oregon as an attorney at law, honorable in the
practice of his profession, upright in his dealings and intercourse with the
world, of fixed principles, backed with good business qualifications and a sound
judgment." "Mr. Denny is a farmer; plain and unostentatious, highly esteemed as
a citizen and a neighbor, straightforward in his business transactions and
eminently qualified

p20 c2:

to discharge with credit to himself any civil duties he may be called upon by
the people to perform. They are both young men of good general intelligence and
steadfast friends of Northern Oregon."
Mr. Bigelow withdrew from the field and Mr. Denny was elected at a special
election held December 7.
In the fall of this year a tax was levied and collected for the erection
of a school house. The house was built of split lumber on the hill where the
Olympian office now stands at the south east corner of block 35. In the
construction the upper joists were not tied to the walls of the building. A
heavy snow fell the following winter and one night soon after school was
dismissed the lateral pressure was so great that the walls gave way, entailing
the collapse of the building. Another building was secured and Mr. A. W. Moore,
the teacher, continued the school.
During the year 1852 the trail up the Cowlitz was continually lined with
immigrants. Every house along the road was crowded nightly with those who had
heard of the salubrious climate and fertile soils on the shores of Puget Sound.
This summer Ira Ward, N. Barnes and S. Hays started a saw mill at the
upper falls at New Market. It was of a single sash saw capable of cutting 2000
to 3000 feet per day.

1853.
The year 1853 opened propitiously for the growing colonies north of the
Columbia river. On December 6, 1852 Hon. Joseph Lane, delegate in Congress from
Oregon introduced the subject of a new territory by procuring the passage of a
resolution instructing the Committee on Territories to consider the question and
report a bill. The committee reported a bill to organize the Territory of
Columbia, which

p21 c1:

came up February 8, 1853. Richard H. Stanton, of Kentucky, moved to substitute
the name of "Washington" for "Columbia," saying that we already had a District
of Columbia while the name of the Father of our Country had been given to no
territory in it. With this amendment the bill passed through the house on the
10th., with one hundred and twenty eight votes for and twenty-nine against. On
March 2, 1853, it was adopted by the Senate and received the president's
signature the following day.
The act created a territory more than twice the size asked for in the
memorial, being "All that portion of Oregon Territory lying and being south of
the forty-ninth degree of north latitude, and north of the middle of the main
channel of the Columbia river from its mouth to where the forty sixth degree of
north latitude crosses said river near Fort Walla Walla, thence with said forty-
sixth latitude to the summit of the Rocky mountains." This included all of
Washington as it now stands, and at portion of Idaho and Montana. The act was
in the usual form creating territories, and provided for a Governor, to be ex
officio Commander in chief of the militia and Superintendent of Indian affairs,
a Secretary, a Supreme Court of three Judges, an attorney and a Marshal, all to
be appointed by the President for a term of four years.
It also called for a delegate to Congress whose first term was to last
during the Congress to which he was elected. A territorial legislature was
created with two branches- a Council with nine members and a term of three
years, the first ones to serve one, two and three years as decided by lot among
them; and a House of eighteen members, with a term of one year, to be increased
from time to time to not more than thirty. Twenty thousand

p21 c2:

dollars were appropriated to defray the expenses of a census, after the taking
of which the Governor was to apportion the members of the Legislature and call
an election to choose them and the Delegate to Congress.
The first Legislature was to meet at any place the Governor might select
and was then to fix the seat of government itself; five thousand dollars were
appropriated for public buildings, and the same amount for a library. County
and local officers then serving were to hold their positions until successors
were chosen under acts to be passed by the legislature of the new territory.
Causes were to be transferred from the Oregon courts, and the territory was to
be divided into three districts, in each of which one of the Supreme Judges was
to hold a district court. Sections sixteen and thirty-six of the public lands or
their equivalent were given to the territory for the benefit of the public
schools.
In January 1853 the territorial legislature of Oregon created four new
counties, all out of Thurston county, to-wit:-- Pierce, King, Island and
Jefferson, leaving Thurston county to include the present counties of Thurston,
Chehalis and Mason.
In March of this year J. W. Wiley transferred his interests in the
Columbian to J. J. Beebe, the publishers then being McElroy and Beebe.
Soon after his inauguration President Pierce appointed Major Isaac I.
Stevens, United States Engineers, Governor; Charles H. Mason of Rhode Island,
Secretary; J. S. Clendenin of Mississippi, Attorney; J. Patton Anderson of
Tennessee, Marshal; Edward Lander of Indiana, Chief Justice; Victor Monroe of
Kentucky and 0. B. McFadden, of Pennsylvania Associate Justices. Marshal
Anderson arrived early in the summer, and took a census provided for in the act,
returning a total population of three

p22 c1:

thousand nine hundred and sixty-five, of whom sixteen hundred and eighty- two
were voters. Governor Stevens was in charge of the expedition sent out by the
War department to survey a northern route for a transcontinental railroad, and
was thus occupied all the summer and fall. Upon crossing the boundary line of
the now territory, September 29, 1853, he issued a proclamation from the summit
of the Rocky mountains, declaring the act of Congress and assuming his duties as
executive.
During the preceding years more or less trouble had been experienced with
the mails. Stages ran each week to the Columbia river where connection was made
for Portland. There was usually considerable necessary delay, but to a large
extent the conveniences and anxious expectations of the people depended on the
sweet pleasures of the stage driver. At this time (1853) the mail left Olympia
every Tuesday and the fact that the driver occasionally indulged in a spree
before starting gave rise to numerous complaints. In the fall of this year,
however a change occurred in contractors, Rabbeson & Yantis became proprietors
of the stage line and advertised to put passengers through from Olympia to
Cowlitz Landing in twelve hours.
In April 1853 a bed of natural oysters was found in Budd's Inlet.
The mammoth, trees of Olympia were becoming known to the outside world and
at this time hewed timber was quoted at 16 to 18 cents per cubic foot; shingles
at $4.50 to $5 -per M and cordwood at $4 per cord. During the seven years since
the first immigrant came to Puget Sound immigration had been by the way of
Vancouver and the Cowlitz river but in the spring of 1853 an effort was made to
find an immigrant route over the Cascade mountains and at a Public meeting of
the citizens of Thurston county, Rev.

p2 c2:

Benj. Close, A. W. Moore, E. Sylvester, James Hurd and John Alexander were
appointed a committee to locate a practical route. In the effort they were
joined by Walla Walla and a road through the Natchez pass was located. This was
designated as the People's Road as distinguished from the Columbia river route.
The first arrival over the People's route was a Mr. Aikin and the arrival of his
party was the occasion of a celebration by both Olympia and Steilacoom.
The year of 1853 showed a steady improvement. The creation of the new
territory had directed immigration this way and the pioneers of the county were
inspired to attack the gigantic forests and lay the foundation for permanent
homes.
The Columbian was published one year by Mr. McElroy, its founder, and in
September '53 he sold it to Matt K. Smith. Mr. Smith, however published it only
a few months when, on December 3rd he sold it to J. W. Wiley. Mr. Wiley changed
the name to Washington Pioneer and continued it as a live local paper. The
change in the proprietors marked a change in the politics of the paper- from
Whig to Democrat.
The year was enlivened somewhat by the report of Indian hostilities at New
Dungeness on the Straits of Fuca. In March 1853 the county commissioners drew
the first grand and petit juries for the county. The grand jury was composed of
the following men who served for the April term of the District court:- Andrew
J. Chambers, Nathan Eaton, Nelson Barnes, Charles E. Weed, ---- White, C.
Ethridge, Martin Shelton, R. B. D. Shelton, Isaac B. Power, John Chambers,
Nathan Pattison. Henry Barnes, B. L. Hennis, James Taylor, Whitfield Kirtley,
Wm. Billings, C. H. Hale. Robert Patterson, Moses Bettman, Thomas J.

p23 c1:

Chambers, Green McAfferty, John R. Kindred and A. J. Moses.
For Petit jurors were drawn.-- John Edgar, Stephen Hodgson, Joseph
Cushman, William Packwood, R. M. Walker, Joseph White, S. D. Ruddle, E. H.
Wilson, Herbert Jeal, J. R. Wood, Alfred Allen, L. H, Calkins, J. R. Hurd, A. B.
Rabbeson, David J. Chambers, James Blanchard, Jesse Ferguson, Franklin Yantis,
Ignatius Colvin, Charles Eaton, B. F. Shaw, William P. Wells, J. M. Swan and
George Brail.
A census was taken this summer by U. S. Marshal J. P. Anderson, the
population of Thurston county being 996.
In the summer of 1853 D. C. Beatty began the manufacture of a line of
household furniture suitable for the times.
During the summer and fall the residents of the village awaited anxiously
the arrival of Governor Stevens when the governmental machinery of the new
territory was to be set in motion. The settlement had an advance knowledge of
the day the governor and party were expected to arrive and a committee of
arrangements had been appointed to provide for a suitable reception.
Preparations for a true pioneer greeting were well under way when, one afternoon
the governor and party were seen coming along the trail that had been cut
through the timber, a few days in advance of the time he was expected. But in
their pioneer simplicity they were too joyed to see him to feel any chagrin over
their unfinished preparations. A national salute was fired and the flag of the
Kendall Company was thrown to the breeze. The governor in the rough garb of a
bold and adventurous American freeman, was received literally into the arms of a
warm hearted, patriotic people. The reception ceremonies were held at the
Washington Hotel,

p23 c2:

corner of Main and Second streets kept by Lewis Ensign, on Saturday evening,
November 26, 1853. On the 28th the governor issued a proclamation dividing the
territory into legislative and judicial districts and calling an election for
January 30, 1854, for the election of members of the legislature which was to
assemble February 27.
The campaign for members of the legislature was an exciting one in
Thurston county. Three tickets were in the field: Democratic, Whig and Union.
The Democratic ticket was-
For Councilmen, D. R. Bigelow and S. D. Ruddle.
For Representatives: L. D. Durgin, George Gallagher, David Shelton and A.
J. Chambers.

WHIG TICKET.
For Councilmen: B. F. Yantis and E. J. Allen.
For Representatives: Ira Ward, C. H. Hale, J. L. Brown and Gallatin
Hartsock.

UNION TICKET.
For Councilmen: D. R. Bigelow and B. F. Yantis.
For Representatives: A. W. Moore, F. W. Glascow, S. S. Ford, Sr. and James
H. Roundtree.
The election resulted in the choice of D. R. Bigelow and B. F. Yantis for
the council and L. D. Durgin, David Shelton, Ira Ward and C. H. Hale for
representatives.
At this election Judge Columbia Lancaster was elected delegate to
Congress.
The year 1853 drew to a close upon the sturdy pioneers in the different
settlements of Thurston county with the star of Hope brilliant in their
firmament. The arrival of Gov. Stevens had agitated the subject of a Northern
Pacific railway and the day was pictured as not far distant when the iron horse
would dash through the Cascade mountains and make the forests

p24 c1:

ring with the rumble of his on coming train.
In December the road was cut through from Olympia to the falls, the
present Tumwater. It is not quite clear when the name of the settlement at the
falls was changed from New Market to Tumwater. The name Tumwater is probably
one of growth, being a modification or anglicizing of the Indian name Tum Chuck.
"Chuck" in the Jargon signifies water and "Tum" with the peculiar Chinook accent
is intended to represent the sound of falling water. Hence in the Indian
vocabulary any waterfall is called "tum chuck." As the settlers gradually
learned the Chinook they substituted the English "water" for the Indian "chuck"
and coined the word "Tumwater," which has since remained the name of the
picturesque little city at the falls.

1854.
The legislature elected January 30, 1854 convened on the 27th of February
in the building on Main street recently used as the Gold Bar restaurant. It was
destined to be a historic body. Its assembling was an important occasion to the
small town that was then dignified as the seat of government. The members came
to their legislative duties by various routes as the stern necessity of those
days determined, either by paddling a boat up the Sound or by the lonely trail
through the forest. To a newspaper correspondent a few years ago, A. A. Denny,
of Seattle who was a member, recounted the experiences of that memorable
occasion. He said:-
"Then Olympia had only 200 or 300 people but it was the greatest and about
the only place north of Portland. The entire council with two exceptions, was
made up of men from the west side of the Cascade mountains. The whole east side
was represented

p24 c2:

by Messrs. Tappan and Bradford, who lived at the Cascade, or Wishram, as it was
known to Bonneville. Then Clarke county was spread all over the eastern
country, and they represented Clarke.
"Nearly the entire legislature journeyed to and from the capital in boats
and it took two good hard days' tugging at the oars to get there from Seattle.
The first night out, Mr. Denny said, they usually made it a point to camp on
McNeil's island but sometimes they could not get that far. By the next night,
if they had toiled hard. they arrived at the seat of legislative power.
"There were twenty seven members of that now historical body, nine in the
council and eighteen in the house They represented almost every walk and
calling in life, and their dress, as may well be supposed, was typical of those
early pioneer days. Some wore caps made of wolf skins, while others had
garments more or less betokening the period in which they lived."
Without reviewing the acts of the first territorial legislature it is
proper to state that a general code of law was enacted, besides several private
and local laws pertaining to each county and the creation of new counties.
Thurston county was reduced in size by taking off Chehalis county on the south
west and Sawamish county on the northwest. The name of the latter county was
afterward changed to Mason in honor of Hon. C. H. Mason, the first territorial
secretary and for a long time acting governor.
The following territorial roads were established, as were also several
others; From Olympia to Shoalwater Bay with Logan Hays, B. F. Yantis and John
Vail appointed commissioners to locate the same; from Cathlamet to the house of
S. S. Ford, Sr.. in Thurston county, with L. H. Davis. Justin Nye and James
Birnie, Jr. commissioners;

p25 c1:

Olympia to the mouth of the Columbia river, with Alonzo Delabaugh, S. S. Ford
and Nelson Barnes commissioners; Olympia to Monticello, with Gilmore Hays, J. C.
Davis and F. Kennedy as commissioners.
The legislature designated a corps of county officers in each county where
vacancies existed who were to hold until their successors were elected and
qualified. For Thurston county S. S. Ford, Sr., David J. Chambers and James
McAllister were county commissioners; U. E. Hicks auditor; Frank Kennedy,
sheriff; Whitfield Kirtley, assessor; Stephen D. Ruddle, probate judge; D. R.
Bigelow, county treasurer; Elwood Evans, county school superintendent; William
W. Plumb, Nathan Eaton and Joseph Broshears, justices of the peace.
Olympia Lodge No. 5 of Free and Accepted Masons that had been acting under
the grand jurisdiction of Oregon, was granted a charter. This lodge is held by
the fraternity as the parent of Free Masonry north of the Columbia river.
Mr. Bigelow, who still resides at Olympia found his duties as county
treasurer not irksome. At one time his business called him to Chamber's
Prairie. Shortly before, he had received $1000 in silver. Having no secure
place in his office to leave it, he tied it in a bag and carried it with him.
The new board of county commissioners organized June 5, and at this
session directed county school superintendent, Elwood Evans to request the
surveyor general of the territory to give an account of the surveyed lands
reserved for school purposes that have been claimed by actual settlers, so that
the board of commissioners might occupy other lands in lieu. Upon Supt. Evans'
report, C. H. Hale was

p25 c2

appointed to select an equal quantity of land to that taken.
The license for retailing liquors was fixed by the board at $100 for six
months, and for a bowling alley at $25 per annum.
Stephen D. Ruddle, appointed Probate Judge by the legislature, declined
the position and Joseph Cushman was selected.
On July 8, Thomas J. Chambers was appointed by the county commissioners to
examine and mark out a quarter section of land for the benefit of a county seat,
"to be the best and most valuable unclaimed land he can find within the limits
of the county and report at next term." Mr. Chambers had evidently given the
matter previous attention for on the 10th, two days after his appointment he
reported the selection of the south east quarter of section 19, township 18,
range 1, west and was allowed $6 for his work.
The tax roll for 1854 showed a valuation of $418,140 and the rate of
taxation was fixed at 3 mills.
This year the commissioners appropriated $500 toward a bridge across the
east fork of Budd's inlet and $1000 for a bridge across the Skookumchuck in the
southern part of the county. Frank Kennedy was appointed bridge commissioner to
superintend the construction of both bridges. The contract for the former was
let to J. L. Perkins for $1550, one thousand dollars being made up by private
subscription.
In December 1854 A. B. Rabbeson was appointed a commissioner to let the
contract for the construction of a suitable and convenient court house according
to plans that he may deem best, provided that said contract shall not exceed
$1200.
During the two and a half years since the organization of the county the
records were kept in a temporary sort of way, deeds being recorded on sheets of
paper; likewise the record of

p26 c1:

the commissioners. On December 7, 1854, the auditor was directed to procure
suitable books, arrange papers and transcribe the records.
The matter of improving the Cascade road was agitated during the year and
a private subscription of $1195 was raised in Olympia to put the route in
suitable condition for travel. Jas. K. Hurd was disbursing agent of the
citizen's committee that had the matter in charge.
The election for representatives and county officers was held in September
and the following tickets were placed in the field early in the summer:

DEMOCRATIC.
For Representatives: Wm. Cock, B. L. Henness, Stephen Guthrie, Wm. P.
Wells.
County commissioners: Levi Shelton S. S. Ford Sr., John S. Low.
Probate Judge: Joseph Cushman.
School superintendent: D. R. Bigelow.
Auditor: U. E. Hicks.
Treasurer: Wm. Rutledge. Sheriff: A. B. Rabbeson.
Assessor: Wm. Packwood.
Coroner: A. J. Baldwin.

WHIG.
For Representatives: Gilmore Hays, C. H. Hale, C. C. Hewitt, James Biles.
County commissioners: E. Nelson Sargent, Moses Hurd, J. H, Conner.
Probate Judge: A. W. Moore.
School superintendent: Geo. F. Whitworth.
Auditor: G. A. Lathrop.
Treasurer: G. A. Barnes.
Sheriff: Isaac Hays.
Assessor: A. N. Hann.
Coroner: Chapman Turner.

FREE SOIL.
For Representatives: C. H. Hale, C. C. Hewitt, Samuel James, Wm. White.
County commissioners: A. J. MeCormick,

p26 c2:

T. F. Berry, Pattison.
Probate Judge: Joseph Cushman.
Auditor: G. A. Lathrop.
Treasurer: W. C. Dobbins.
Sheriff: J. M. Swan.
Assessor: B. F. Brown.
The issues involved in the election were the same as those that were
agitating national politics in the states. The election resulted in the choice
of the straight Democratic ticket. United States marshal J. Patton Anderson was
elected delegate to congress from the Territory.
In December 1854 Wm. B. Goodell established a stage line between Olympia
and Cowlitz via of Grand Mound, leaving Olympia on Tuesday and Friday of each
week. At Cowlitz, near the present site of Toledo, it made connections with
boats for Monticello and Portland. His charges were- from Olympia to Grand
Mound, $3.50; to Cowlitz, $10.
During the year numerous improvements were made in the village and also in
the country, in common with other desirable locations on the Sound. Two
sawmills were erected at Tumwater. W. W. Miller began the operation of a steam
saw mill a few miles down the bay on the eastside. The Masonic Hall was built
this summer and fitted for the legislature of 1855. Work was plenty and both
laborers and mechanics were in demand.
Edward Giddings had a wharf extending 300 feet from the foot of Main
street and seriously contemplated extending it to deep water.
The project of dyking the mud flats was conceived and discussed by local
capitalists.
The early advent of a railroad over the Cascades was a pleasant and oft-
discussed topic. Taking the situation all in all, the actual bona fide
improvements and the ephemeral speculations of would be capitalists, the year
1854

p27 c1:

drew to a close, with the sturdy pioneers full of enthusiasm for the future,
little dreaming of the dark cloud that was to descend on them ere the return of
another twelve month.

1855.
At the March term of the board of commissioners, county superintendent G.
F. Whitworth, represented to the board that a portion of the county and
territorial school fund had been misapplied, having been, probably
inadvertently, paid out upon county orders on the general fund. The treasurer
was then directed to reimburse those funds from the money on hand, so far as it
went and to cash no more county warrants until the amount drawn from the school
funds was fully repaid.
At this term A. M. Blanchett, Catholic Bishop, communicated with the board
with reference to refunding the tax levied on the St. Joseph's Mission property,
but no action was taken, the communication being laid on the table.
Samuel Klacy who had been elected assessor the preceding summer resigned
and Samuel Coulter was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Coulter reported the
valuation of taxable property at $396,825 and the board fixed the rate at 4
mills. In June 1855 the county debt amounted to $4,388.29.
At the June session of the board F. Kennedy, bridge commissioner, reported
on the construction of the bridge to Swantown for which the county had
appropriated $500 at a previous session. The board refused to accept the bridge
for three reasons: 1st, the law had not been complied with in its construction;
2nd, the bridge was not built on bents; 3rd, the bridge was not a good and
substantial structure. The friends of the contractor in the town at once
interested themselves in his behalf and the same day a petition with 73
signatures was presented

p27 c2:

to the board, asking that the contractor be given the $500. The bill was
allowed and the bridge accepted.
The duty of locating the permanent seat of government devolved on the
legislature of 1855. The candidates were Vancouver on the Columbia and Olympia.
When the question came to a vote it resulted in the choice of Olympia. Hon. A.
A. Denny of King county addressed the house of representatives as follows--
"Mr. Speaker:- I propose to do now what I have not done before- I propose
to say now what I have not heretofore said to anyone (if my memory serves me)
relative to my views upon this location question. I now for the first time
announce my purpose to vote for the location of the territorial capital at or
near Olympia; and for my vote upon this question shall briefly assign a few
reasons.
Justice to all sections of the territory require at our hands patient and
careful investigation as to the proper place at which to locate the territorial
capitol. Its location should be central both as to its geographical position,
as well as to its center compared with our population. In my investigation of
this question, I have arrived at the conclusion that Olympia is nearer the
geographical center than any other point I have heard mentioned during the
discussion on this subject- and that it is also nearer the center of our present
population. If, Mr. Speaker, you take Thurston county with its population and
add it to the counties north, there will be found a clear and decided majority
of the population of our Territory in those counties. If you will take Thurston
from the northern counties and unite her with the counties south, then it will
show a still more decided majority south. Thus it is clearly demonstrated that
Olympia is about the center of population in this territory. It is as easily

p28 c1:

accessible from all parts of the territory as any place which has been named
during the pendency of this question, or that could have been named. It is at
the head of navigation at a point the farthest inland, accessible from all
counties north by all manner of water craft from steamer down to the Indian
canoe. It is in a direct line from the counties south to the counties north, of
the territory. If you travel from the northern to the southern counties you
must go through Thurston or travel out of your course. If you travel from the
southern to the northern counties you have to pass through Thurston. Then as to
the particular location the site is clearly eligible, the land selected is
elevated and overlooks the placid waters of Puget sound for many miles to the
Northward. The scenery is grand and imposing- to the north the Coast Range is
seen looming up in the distance, Mount Olympus standing out in bold relief
amidst the hundreds of less elevated peaks in the vicinity.
Indeed, Mr. Speaker, I know of no other place combining anything like the
claims, all things considered, to the Territorial capital as does this immediate
vicinity; hence I shall most willingly give my support to the bill under
consideration. In doing so, I am influenced by no motives of a pecuniary
character- I own no town lots or landed estate in Thurston county and such is
the poor estimate of my vote or influence that I have not had even the offer of
an oyster supper from the good citizens of Olympia as an inducement for either."
The legislature submitted the question of the manufacture and sale of
ardent spirits to a vote of the people of the territory at the next election in
July. The campaign was a warm one throughout the territory. At a meeting in
this county Hon. Elwood Evans was appointed chairman of the executive

p28 c2:

committee and issued an announcement to temperance men in the territory to form
county societies.
The political feature of the campaign was also inaugurated early, by the
democratic county committee calling a county convention for April 29.
The following ticket was placed in the field:-
Councilman. Wm. Cock.
Representatives: C. B. Baker, Wm. Rutledge, Jr., David J. Chambers.
Charles E. Weed, Rodolph M. Walker, John N. Low.
Surveyor: Jared S. Hurd.
Assessor- W. B. D. Newman.
Commissioner. Joseph S. Broshears.
Fence Viewer: R. M. Walker.
Lieutenant Colonel: Joseph Miles.
Major: J. K. Hurd.
The Democratic candidate for Congress was J. Patton Anderson of this
county.

WHIG TICKET.
The Whig convention was hell on May 5 and the following nominations made:-
Councilman: B. F. Yantis.
Representatives: T. F. McElroy, C. H. Hale, G. Hartsock, Cyril Ward, C. G.
Saylor, J. W. Goodell.
Assessor:- Marion Sargent.
Commissioner: William S. Parsons.
Colonel. B. Harned.
Lieutenant Colonel:- Wm. Miles.
Major- J. J. Westbrook.
The Whig candidate for Congress was William Strong.

FREE SOIL.
A Free Soil county convention was held May 26 and the following ticket
nominated.
Councilman: B. F. Brown.
Representatives- Samuel James, J. M. Swan, Wm. White, Mr. Lum. S. N.
Woodruff and Wm. Patterson Sr.
Surveyor: T. F. Berry.
Commissioner: Mr. Stroll.
Assessor: William Billings.

p29 c1:

The candidate for Congress was Joseph Cushman.
The democratic candidate for Congress carried the county by 9 majority.
Wm. Cock was elected councilman. Walker, Baker and Chambers, Democrats- and
Hale, Ward and McElroy- Whigs- were chosen representatives. The democratic
ticket was elected with the exception of Jared S. Hurd for surveyor, the free
soil candidate, Mr. Berry being chosen.
At this election the county cast 377 votes: Olympia precinct, 260; South
Bay, 18; Black Lake, 15; Yelm Prairie, 18; Grand Mound, 39; Miami, 9; Coal Bank,
18. Prohibition received a majority of 14 votes in the county but failed to
carry the territory.
In August 1855 a new frame school house of two stories was erected on the
site of the one that collapsed the year before. The building still stands and
from 1874 to 1892 was used as a court house. It is now owned by Geo. Langridge
and occupied by the Olympian.
This summer the contract to carry the mail from Olympia to Seattle was
awarded to Henry Winsor of Olympia at a rate not to exceed $1000 per annum. He
was permitted to carry it by either sail boat or horse.
During the summer the work of developing the country went forward.
Immigration continued and fertile lands in all parts of the Sound country were
taken as claims. Forests were cleared in patches and permanent homes
established.

INDIAN TROUBLES.
In early fall reports of trouble with Indians in White River Valley, King
county, began finding their way to Olympia and the settlers in the country
around the capital manifested
more or less alarm. The hostiles were of the Yakima tribe and the exciting
cause of their depredations may

p29 c2:

be traced to the origin of all Indian troubles since the pale faces first began
crowding the red man toward the setting sun.
It is not our purpose to go into all the details that lead to the cruel
attack on the Puget Sound settlements, but it is well for the reader to bear in
mind that the Hudson's Bay people looked jealously on the American settlements
north of the Columbia as tending to ultimately wrest this section of the country
from the pretended claim of Great Britain and it is claimed by some that this
company encouraged the Indians in order to discourage settlements.
Early in 1854 a member of one of northern tribes, the Kake, had worked for
H. L. Butler, at Butler's cove, and a dispute arose over the wages. As a result
of the controversy one Burke, who was working for Butler, killed the Indian.
Following this murder it was customary for the northern Indians to make trips up
the Sound in search of work and commit depredations on the settlements on their
return.
Their periodic visits increasing in number and boldness alarmed the
settlers, and Commander Swartout of the United States navy, who was then on duty
in Puget Sound waters, in charge of the Steamer Massachusetts, determined to
drive them out and punish them. On November 20, he made an attack on their camp
at Port Gamble. Twenty seven were killed and twenty one wounded and their huts
and canoes destroyed. The remainder he carried to Victoria and flattered
himself that Puget Sound settlements were rid of them. In this he was mistaken.
His attack increased the hostile spirit of the savages.
At this time the strength of the fighting warriors west of the Cascade
mountains was estimated at 175, distributed as follows: The Nisquallies

p30 c1:

and Puyallups under Leschi and Quinmuth, 65; Green and White river Indians under
Nelson and Kitsap, 35; Klickitats and their relations under Kanascut, 55; Upper
Puyallups under O'Cuiltin, 20.
Leschi of the Nisquallies had worked up a combination of these tribes to
engage in a war against the white settlements in the Green and White river
vallies.
On October 14, 1855, acting governor Charles H. Mason issued a
proclamation citing the fact that information had been received showing a state
of hostility between the Yakima Indians and the United States government in the
territory and calling for two companies of volunteers, each to consist of 1
captain, 1 first lieutenant, 1 second lieutenant, 2 musicians, 4 sergeants, 4
corporals, and 74 privates. Vancouver and Olympia were designated as places of
enrollment. The proclamation closed with: "All persons desirous of enrolling
will, as far as practicable, provide their own arms and equipments. The
greatest possible expedition is requested as it is expedient for the companies
to take the field at the earliest moment."
The Olympia company adopted the name of the Puget Sound Mounted Volunteers
and was officered as follows- Captain, Gilmore Hays; 1st lieutenant, Jared S.
Hurd; 2nd lieutenant, William Martin; lst sergeant, Joseph Gibson. 2nd
sergeant, H. D. Cock; 3rd Sergeant, Thos. Prather; 4th sergeant, Joseph White;
1st corporal, Joseph S. Taylor; 2nd corporal, Whitfield Kirtly; 3rd corporal, D.
T. Wheelock; 4th corporal, John Scott.
Gov. Mason was expecting 1890 muskets, 100 accouterments, 30 cavalry
sabers, 280,000 rifle caps, etc., by the steamer Willawantic. The vessel was
anxiously awaited, but when it arrived, to the great disappointment of every
one, it brought no

p30 c2:

arms. Surveyor general James A. Tilton then went to Seattle to visit the sloop
of war Decatur and the revenue cutter Jeff Davis for the purpose of securing
arms for the volunteers. In this he was partially successful obtaining from the
Decatur: 30 muskets, with bayonets, belts, etc.; 40 carbines, 50 holster
pistols, 50 sabers with belts and 3500 ball cartridges. From the revenue cutter
he obtained, 6 musketoons and 6 sabers. In all sufficient to arm 70 infantry
and 50 light horse cavalry.
After the organization of the volunteers Gov. Mason commissioned Chas.
Eaton, a resident of the coast since 1843 and familiar with the Indians and
their methods of fighting to organize a company of rangers, to consist of 30
privates and 11 officers. The order was instantly complied with and the company
organized as follows: 1st lieutenant, James McAllister; 2nd lieutenant, James
Tullis; 3rd lieutenant A. M. Poe; 1st sergeant, John Harold; 2nd sergeant Chas.
E. Weed; 3rd sergeant William W. Miller; 4th sergeant, S. Phillips; 1st
corporal, S. D. Rinehart; 2nd corporal, Thomas Bracken; 3rd corporal, S.
Hodgden; 4th corporal, James Hughes.
Both companies were presented with flags by the ladies of Olympia and left
for the seat of war in the White river valley on October 20, 1855. Much doubt
existed as to the extent of the hostile feeling among the natives. Capt. Bolen
of the Willamantic said there more Indians at the lower Sound than he ever saw
before. It was known that the Yakimas were well united in a feeling of
hostility, while the Klickitats were known to be divided. It was considered by
the troops and authorities very essential that the first battle be won, else the
neutral Indians would join their hostile neighbors.
A company was organized on Mound

p31 c1:

Prairie and the citizens there built a block house for protection. A company
was also formed at Chamber's Prairie. The late Judge C. C. Hewitt was captain
of a company organized at Seattle.
On October 22, Gov. Mason issued a proclamation calling for four
additional companies to be officered as were the two former. Owing to the
difficulties of communication, it was deemed prudent by the authorities to have
a force in reserve to be called to action in case of emergency. By the
proclamation the counties of Walla Walla, Skamania and Clarke were to furnish
one company to enroll at Vancouver; the counties of Cowlitz, Wakiakum, Pacific
and Chehalis one company to enroll at Cathlamet; Lewis, Thurston, Pierce and
Sawamish, one company to enroll at Olympia and King, Island, Jefferson, Clalm
and Whatcom one company, to enroll at Seattle. These companies were expected to
take the field only when necessity required it.
Gov. Mason officially appointed James Tilton adjutant general of the
volunteer forces of the territory during the war. Charles Eaton of Thurston
county was designated as captain of the Puget Sound Rangers.
In obedience to the governors proclamation of the 22nd the counties of
Lewis, Thurston, Pierce and Sawamish filled the roll of their company with 110
men and on the 29th elected the following officers:- Captain Geo. B. Goudy; 1st
lieutenant, W. B. Affleck; 2nd lieutenant, J. K. Hurd; 1st sergeant, Francis
Lindler; 2nd, A. J. Baldwin; 3rd Sergeant, F. W. Sealy; 4th sergeant, James
Roberts; 1st corporal, Joseph Walraven; 2nd corporal E. W. Austin; 3rd corporal,
Hiel Barnes; 4th corporal, Joseph Deans.
To protect the families located on claims, forts or stockades were erected
in different parts of the territory. In

p31 c2:

this county one was built on Chambers Prairie and one on Mound Prairie.
The initial proceedings of the troops were to capture Leschi, the
Nisqually chief who had been preparing his band for hostilities. He was an
Indian of more than ordinary wealth and power and was in possession of a
considerable amount of farming land on the Nisqually bottoms between Packwood's
ferry and the crossing of that stream at the Yelm.
Business in the little settlement at Olympia was suspended and the claims
in the country practically abandoned. Men were either preparing to leave for
the scenes of trouble or were employed in the different works of fortifying the
town.
On October 24th the Rangers left Olympia for the field and proceeded
direct in quest of Leschi. On arriving at his headquarters they found that he
had fled to the White river valley. The troops immediately started in pursuit.
At Puyallup crossing the main body of the company halted and Captain Eaton,
Lieutenant McAllister and a Mr. Cornell with a friendly Indian or two proceed to
have a conference with the hostiles. Lieut. McAllister acted as interpreter.
The Indians professed friendship and promised to not engage in a war against the
settlers.
Upon returning to the command, the little company was fired upon from
ambush and Lieutenant McAllister and Mr. Cornell killed. One of the friendly
Indians called Charley then rode to the McAllister claim told the family of Mr.
McAllister's death and helped them to the fort on Chamber's Prairie.
A few days later Cols. Joseph Miles and A. B. Moses were killed.
When the news of Lieut. McAllister's death reached town it aroused the
people to the horrors of the situation.

p32 c1:

The number of fighting warriors was grossly exaggerated in the fears of
the people, This and the defenseless condition of the citizens aroused the
populace to the highest excitement. Straggling Indians were going through the
county committing depredations upon the small herds. Claims were abandoned and
families took refuge in Olympia. A town meeting was held at which Wm. Cock was
chosen chairman and Elwood Evans secretary. Adjutant General Tilton was
present. The situation was thoroughly discussed and it was resolved to erect a
stockade. A committee consisting of Wm. Cock, Rev. J. F, Devore and R. M.
Walker were appointed to confer with General Tilton and to proceed at once with
the work of fortifying the town, and, if necessary to detain the brig Tarquina
then lying in the harbor, as a refuge.
On November 10th the bodies of Lieutenant McAllister and Cols. Miles and
Moses were brought to Olympia for interment. To add to the universal gloom that
hung over the little community nature joined, and the bodies of these young men
were borne to their graves on Chambers' Prairie under a heavy sky and during the
falling of incessant rain.
The committee appointed to devise means of fortifying the town erected a
stockade along Fourth street from bay to bay with a block house at the corner of
Main on which was placed a cannon. In case of an attack the people were
expected to seek safety north of the stockade or in the block house.
But the war was short. What fighting there was, was in the White and
Puyallup valleys, in King and Pierce counties. Matters were soon quieted down
and in December the companies were discharged.
On January 26, 1856, an attack was made on Seattle by the Indians and Gov.
Stevens who had just returned

p32 c2:

from the east, issued a proclamation calling for six companies, two to enroll at
Olympia.
The first company to respond to the governor's call was organized on
February 4th with the following officers. Captain, Gilmore Hays; 1st Lieutenant,
A. B. Rabbeson; 2nd Lieutenant, Wm. Martin; orderly sergeant, Frank Ruth; 2nd
sergeant, A. J. Moses, 3rd sergeant, D. Martin; 4th sergeant, M. Goodell; lst
corporal, N. B. Coffey, 2nd corporal, J. L. Myers; 3rd corporal, F. Hughes; 4th
corporal, H. Horton.
A company of Mounted Rangers was organized February 6, and officered with
B. L. Hennis as captain; G. C. Blankenship, 1st lieutenant, F. A. Goodwin, 2nd
lieutenant; Joseph Cushman, lst sergeant; Wm. J. Yaeger, 2nd sergeant; Henry
Laws, 3rd sergeant; James Phillips, 4th sergeant; Wm. E. Klady, 1st corporal;
Thos. Hicks, 2nd corporal; S. A. Phillips 3rd corporal; H. A. Johnson, 4th
corporal.
On February 8 was organized the Pioneer or company of miners and sappers
who entered the service in the capacity of axe-men, teamsters, packers, &c. The
functions of this organization were to cut roads, build block houses, guard
stock and, as occasion required to take part in offensive and defensive
demonstrations. Its officers were: Captain, James A. White; 1st lieutenant, U.
E. Hicks; 2nd lieutenant, T. McLain Chambers; 1st, sergeant, D. J. Hubbard; 2nd
sergeant, C. White, 3rd sergeant, Marcus McMillan; 4th sergeant, H. G. Parsons;
1st corporal, Isaac Lemons; 2nd corporal, Wm. Ruddell; 4th corporal Wm. Mengle.
During the winter and spring of 1856 the citizens were in constant alarm.
The seat of war was in the White and Puyallup valleys and news was eagerly
sought. James H. Goudy

p33 c1

drove an express from Olympia to the camp, supplying soldiers with subsistence
and this afforded the only means of communication.
On March 1st Adjutant general Tilton issued a call for one hundred more
men, to rendezvous at Olympia for service under Major Hays and to strengthen
the companies of Captains Henness, Rabbeson, White and Swindal.
In April arose a demand for better protection of the town and it was
determined to build a block house, sufficient to hold the entire population. It
was built of logs on the public square at the corner of Main and Sixth streets.
More or less fighting was done as spring merged into summer. The hope and
enthusiasm of the settlers of the previous year was giving way to despondency.
The town was slowly being depopulated, crops were not put in, improvements were
suspended and the future was fraught with grave apprehensions. The only ray of
light that shot athwart the horizon was the growing indication that the savages
themselves were tiring of the war.
In June Gov. Stevens sent M. T. Simmons and Ed. C. Fitzhugh to treat with
the Indians for peace. Their efforts ended in failure. But the Indians
gradually abandoned their warlike attitude. Encounters subsided and the
soldiers returned to their homes.
They were however subject to call until August, when they were formally
mustered out of the service and on September 30 the horses, stores, &c. of the
soldiers were sold at the post in Olympia.
The chief Leschi and his brother Queimal were induced to give themselves
up to the authorities under the promise of pardon. Leschi surrendered to Col.
Casey of the United States Army at Fort Steilacoom, but he was subsequently
indicted for murder

p33 c2

and after three trials sentenced to hang. Queimal gave himself up to Gov.
Stevens and while waiting in the ante room of the governor's office was murdered
by unknown parties.
Another Indian named Yelm Jim was indicted, tried and convicted of the
murder of Sluggier, an Indian instrumental in the capture of Leschi.
The case of Leschi was appealed to the Supreme court, where it was before
the court seven days. In a general review of the case Judge 0. B. McFadden
affirmed the judgment of the district court and the villain was sentenced to be
hanged on January 22, 1858 at Fort Steilacoom in Pierce county.
As the time for carrying out the sentence of the court drew near,
petitions for Leschi's pardon were presented to the governor. Numerous
remonstrances against a pardon were likewise filed. The governor declined to
interfere and nothing was expected but that the sentence of the court would be
executed. But January 22, 1858, passed by and Leschi did not hang. Indignation
meetings were held and a committee of citizens was appointed at Olympia to
inquire into the failure of the officers to hang the murderer. The report of
this committee subjected the sheriff of Pierce county to severe censure and
disclosed that the military authorities at the Fort had interfered to save the
Indian's life.
An extra session of the Supreme Court was held February 11, 1858, and
Leschi resentenced to hang on February 19. Judge Chynoweth delivered the
opinion and ordered Sheriff Hays of Thurston county to carry out the order of
the court. Excitement was at a high pitch and trouble was feared. In the
absence of the sheriff, deputy Wm. L. Mitchell went with a posse of twelve men
to Steilacoom where the sentence was carried

p34 c1

out and the once powerful chief of the Nisquallies paid the penalty of his
crimes.
The case of Yelm Jim charged with the murder of Wm. White in March 1856
was on the court calendar for several terms and came to a trial in April 1859
when the accused was found guilty and was subsequently sentenced to hang on May
4, 1860. A strong public opinion set in favor of the murderer and numerous
petitions for his pardon were circulated. In March, 1860, two Indians named
Wash and Watumpa came to Olympia and confessed to being the murderers of Wm.
White and asked clemency for Yelm Jim. It was argued that the war was over;
that the Indians had abandoned the war path and that a little of "forgive and
forget" spirit might avert further troubles. On May 3rd, Gov. Gholson granted a
reprieve to August 10th. On that day the convict was granted an unqualified
pardon.
During the year 1856 little else than the Indian War attracted the
attention of the residents of Thurston county and the remaining history of that
year is soon written. Back in the states a presidential campaign was on and
politics was not entirely lost sight of at Olympia.
The election of county officers was held July 14, and three full tickets
were in the field: Democratic, Whig, and Free Soil, the following being the
candidates for the several offices-

DEMOCRATIC.
For Councilman: J. W. Wiley.
For Representatives: B. L. Henness, C. B. Baker, J. Longmyer, Daniel
Kizer, G. C. Blankenship, Wm. Rutledge, Jr.
County Commissioners: A. J. Chambers, J. Cornell.
Prosecuting Attorney: Victor Monroe.
Sheriff: Samuel Coulter.
Treasurer: G. K. Willard.

p34 c2

Auditor: Wm. Wright.
Assessor: T. W. Glascow.
Coroner: H. D. Morgan.

WHIG.
For Councilman: B. F. Yantis.
For Representatives: J. W. McAllister, Wm. McLain, A. O'Neil, Elwood
Evans, E. W. Sargent, J. Dunlap.
County Commissioners: C. Crosby, W. S. Parsons.
Prosecuting Attorney: J. Anderson.
Sheriff: Isaac Hays.
Treasurer: E. Marsh.
Assessor: D. T. Wheelock.

FREE SOIL.
For Councilman- B. F. Brown.
For Representatives: Ira Ward, J. M. Lum, W. Patterson, J. M. Swan, Wm.
Billings, W. N. Ayers.
County Commissioner: J. Shaw.
Sheriff: Wm. Lyle.
Treasurer: J. Allen.
Auditor: D. C. Beatty.
Assessor: G. W. French.

The election resulted in the choice of the entire Democratic ticket except
the candidate for sheriff. For this office Isaac Hays, the Whig candidate was
chosen,
School was taught during the summer in Masonic Hall, a Miss Babb being the
teacher,
A private school, under the name of Puget Sound Institute, was established
by Rev. J. F. Dillon and wife. Mr. Dillon was pastor of the M. E. church.
On September 6, the commissioners elected the preceding July, met and
organized with the choice of A. J. Chambers, presiding judge. Only routine
business was transacted. Edward Giddings, who had constructed the Wharf at the
foot of Main street was allowed to make the following wharfage charges: vessels
of 500 tons and over, $5 per day; vessels under 250 tons, $2.50 per day; teams
crossing over the wharf, ten cents; goods landed on the wharf, fifty cents per
ton.

p35 c1

In September 1856 T. W. Glascow of Tenalquot Plains brought the first threshing
machine to the county. Joseph Shaw opened a cabinet and chair shop.
As the year drew to a close the settlers gradually recovered from the
disorder into which they were thrown by the alarm of the war whoop. Families
that did not flee the country returned to their usual vocations and with renewed
life and energy went to work to build up homes,
In the fall J. M. Swan platted his donation claim adjoining the Sylvester
tract on the east side of the bay.

1857.
In January 1857 the legislature incorporated the Northern Pacific
railroad, the incorporators being residents of Washington, Oregon, Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Maine. The following were the Washington members
of the corporation: I. I. Stevens, C. H. Mason, Ed. Lander, Geo. Gibbs, B. F.
Kendall, Wm. Cock, R. M. Walker, W. W. Miller, W. H. Wallace, Lafayette Balch,
M. T. Simmons, Elwood Evans, A. A. Denny, David Phillips, Alex. Abernethy, J. P.
Keller, James Tilton, E. H. Fowler, S. D. Howe, Ed. C. Fitzhugh, Walter Crocket,
Sr., L. H. Davis, C. C. Pagett, John R. Jackson, Seth Catlin, Wm. Strong,
William Dillon, Sumner Barker, Wm. Kelly, Ira Patterson, H. D. Huntington, N.
Ostrander and B. B. Bishop. By the charter the line of road was to commence at
one of the passes in the Rocky mountains between the territories of Washington
and Nebraska and connecting with such road passing through the territories of
Minnesota and Nebraska as the company may elect; thence extending westwardly
through the territory of Washington by the Bitter Root valley, crossing the
Coeur d'Aline mountains by the most practical route; thence across

p35 c2:

the great plain of the Columbia, with two branches, one down the Columbia to
Vancouver the other over the Cascades to the Sound, with a connection from the
river to the Sound."
The legislature of this year passed "an act appointing a board of
commissioners and giving them authority to build a bridge across the western arm
of Budd's Inlet at Olympia." The commissioners designated were: Wm. Cock, Edwin
Marsh, W. W. Miller, Wm. McLain, J. K. Hurd, Jos. Cushman, S. W. Percival and
Elwood Evans. The commission met February 2, 1857 and organized by the election
of Edwin Marsh president, S. W. Percival secretary and W. W. Miller, treasurer.
Joseph Cushman, Benj. Harned and J. K. Hurd were appointed a committee to draft
plans for the proposed bridge and to make an estimate on the cost of
construction. At a subsequent meeting the committee reported in favor of a
bridge 1803 feet long; to contain two wenches for draws, 30 feet wide, two
openings 35 feet wide for rafts and the estimated cost of the structure to be
$3000. Messrs. Morrow of Suwamish county, McLain, Cock, Miller and Hale of
Thurston were authorized to open books for subscriptions of labor, material,
cash, &C.
Attention this year was turned to manufacturing and in various ways to
developing the industrial resources of the county.
Andrew J. Miller had in operation an extensive saw mill near Priest's
point on the Eastside and this year Wills & Ethridge attached a sash and door
factory. A wharf 350 feet long and 34 feet wide was built for the convenience
of vessels in loading. Getting out ship spars was a lucrative business.
Several store buildings were erected in the town.
Ward and Hays who had erected a

p36 c1:

flouring mill at Tumwater during 1856 made several shipments.
In August A. G. Da Lee of San Francisco opened a picture gallery.
B. F. Harned built his residence near the public square.
In November a brass band was organized. There were nine members and
instruction was received from Joseph Wright of Vancouver.
A temperance organization was effected.
So thoroughly had the Indian War depopulated the country surrounding
Olympia that at the March term of the commissioners the election precincts of
Coal Bank, Rabbeson's Prairie, Nesqually Prairie and Miami were abandoned and
the territory attached to the adjoining precincts.
The rate of taxation this year was fixed at 3 mills for county purposes, 1
mill for court purposes, 1 mill for territorial purposes and 2 mills for school
purposes. In a report made by the auditor dated June 26, the amount of tax
levied for 1856 was given at $3528.55; the amount collected, $3422.63, leaving a
delinquency of only $105.92 being less than for any previous year. The current
expenses for the year were $1854.94, appropriated as follows: County
commissioners, $170.80; clerks and judges of election, $167.10: assessor, $156;
Coroner, $37.50; Constable $88.95; Sheriff, $166.65; superintendent of schools,
$100; probate judge $51; prosecuting attorney, $104; county treasurer, $51.83;
auditor, $138.72; petit jurors, $36.30; office rent, $120; books and stationery,
$45.09; support of the poor, $421. The receipts for the year exceeded
expenditures by $1028.48. In closing the report Auditor Wright said: "It must
be gratifying to all who feet an interest in the affairs of the county to learn
from the above facts and figures that the county is steadily approaching a
condition, financially, greatly to be desired, namely, freedom

p36 c2

from debt."
On July 13. occurred the annual election. The opposition that existed
against the Democrats the year before had united under the name of Republican,
dubbed by the Democrats "Black Republican." The following tickets were in the
field, the entire Democratic ticket being elected except the candidates for
school superintendent, prosecuting attorney and coroner.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Representatives: W. W. Miller, Stephen Guthrie, B. F. Shaw, C. B.
Baker, Thos. W. Glascow.
For Joint Representative: Wm. Morrow.
For Probate Judge- G. K. Willard.
For Assessor: J. R. Smith.
For County Commissioner: James Biles.
For School Superintendent: Albert Eggers.
For Prosecuting, Attorney: Q. A. Brooks, C. W. Swindal. (Ind.)

REPUBLICAN.
For Representatives: Elwood Evans, Wm. McLain, Ira Ward, Jr., A. H.
Stewart, S. H. French.
For Joint Representative. D. J. Burntrager.
For Probate Judge: D. R. Bigelow.
For Assessor: Samuel Dunlap.
For County Commissioner: J. M. Shotwell.
For School Superintendent: G. F. Whitworth.
For Prosecuting Attorney: C. C Hewitt.
Coroner. C. H. Hale.

Gov. Stevens was elected delegate to Congress as the Democratic candidate
and on August 11, resigned the office of governor. His duties again devolved
upon Secretary Mason. In September his successor Fayette McMullen arrived and
was received with a salute of cannon.
This year the mail contract from

p37 c1:

San Francisco to Olympia via Port Townsend was awarded to the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company.
October 15th the Steamer Fairy, owned by A. B. Rabbeson of Olympia and
plying between Olympia and Steilacoom was blown up just as it was leaving the
dock at Steilacoom.

1858.
The year 1857 closed with the people fairly recovered from the
devastations of the Indian War. But a new form of excitement was in store for
the small settlements throughout the county. There had been since the first
settlement an abiding sentiment in the minds of the people that gold lined the
hills of Western Washington. In May 1857 a party of four men started out with a
pack horse to explore the Black Hills in the western part of the county. They
were gone about ten days and reported that favorable indications existed for
future successful mining. A new party was fitted out secretly to renew the
explorations.
Laboring under the Hallucination that gold existed everywhere, Ira Ward,
Jacob Croll et al ascended the Deschutes about sixty miles and returned with the
report that the prospects for gold were as good as in California, but in strange
contradiction to this report they brought back no mineral, neither were they
successful in finding any- only "indications."
The discovery of gold in the Frazier river valley in British Columbia,
afforded a genuine mining excitement. Miners and adventurers in California
flocked thither. Settlers in Oregon and Washington abandoned their claims to
take part in the feverish search. Olympia, being the only town of importance
north of the Columbia and the first on tide water, was the headquarters for
miners and miners supplies.
At the election in July a very light

p37 c2:

vote was polled, on account of the men being at the mines. In the fall the
excitement subsided and the prospectors returned.
In 1858, Wells Fargo & Co., established an express office at Olympia with
T. M. Reed as agent.
The annual election this year was less exciting than the few previous
ones, but resulted in the election of the entire Democratic ticket. The
following tickets were at the polls:

DEMOCRATIC.
For Councilman: W. W. Miller.
For Representatives: E. Sylvester, B. L. Henness, Wm. Rutledge, Sr., John
M. Hawk, James Longmire, Oliver Shead.
Pros. Attorney: B. P. Anderson.
County Commissioner: Joseph Cornell.
Treasurer. G. K. Willard.
Auditor: Richard Lane.
Sheriff: G. C. Blankenship.
Assessor: Wm. Martin.
Coroner: A. J. Baldwin.

REPUBLICAN.
For Councilman: C. H. Hale.
For Representatives: Wm. McLain, J. M. Lum, A. W. Moore, R. J. Smith, A.
J. Simmons, A. W. Stewart.
Pros. Attorney: D. R. Bigelow.
County Commissioner: John M. Swan.
Treasurer. Geo. A. Barnes.
Auditor: W. N. Ayers.
Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
Assessor: W. 0. Thompson.

Notwithstanding the mining excitement this year the usual amount of
attention was devoted to the subject of a Northern Pacific railroad. A railroad
meeting was held in Masonic Hall September 29 and Congress urged to grant lands
to the Northern Pacific railway. Elwood Evans was chairman of the meeting and
R. M. Walker secretary.
On September 4th a dead body was found floating near Priest's point on

p38 c1

which was $520. A coroner's jury found it to be that of Edward Connor, who, was
drowned while fording a stream that enters the Sound near that point, at a time
when it was swollen by heavy rains.
Interest in fruitgrowing had attracted the attention of the settlers and
two nurseries were established at Grand Mound, one by L. D. Durgin, the other by
Gangloff & Moxlie.
This fall witnessed a great improvement in the mail service of the Sound.
A postal agent visited Olympia and arranged for the mail steamer Constitution
leaving on Monday instead of Friday. Connections were made at San Francisco by
which the overland mail from St. Louis reached Olympia in twenty four days and
the event was heralded as a great achievement. In November the service from
Olympia to Oakland on Skookum Bay was extended to Hood's canal.
The Puget Sound Wesleyan Institute did not open in the fall of this year
but closed in June until further notice.
Wm. Martin who was elected assessor failed to qualify and Whitfield
Kirtley was appointed to fill the vacancy.

1859.
The year 1859 opened with the sun of prosperity beaming upon the beautiful
village at the head of the Sound and the numerous settlers on the prairies
around. The inhabitants had recovered from their fright of three years before
and taken hold of improvements with the vigor of '52.
In May the commissioners called a special election to vote a tax of 4
mills to build a new court house. This, it was estimated would produce a
revenue of about $5000, of which $2500 was to be used to pay existing
indebtedness and $2500 to build a court house.
The proposition was voted down by fully 4 to 1.

p38 c2

Politically the atmosphere surrounding the campaign was as warm as before
the gold excitement of '58. Two tickets were nominated, the Democratic and
Republican as follows:-

DEMOCRATIC.
For Councilman: James Biles.
For Representatives: B. L. Henness. G. K. Willard, Oliver Shead. A. S.
Yantis, Chas. E. Weed, Levi Shelton.
County Commissioner: A. J. Chambers.
Assessor: John Chambers.

REPUBLICAN.
For Councilman: Stephen Guthrie.
For Representatives: Elwood Evans, T. M. Reed, Wm. McLain, Abram Tilley,
T. F. Berry, A. W. Sargent.

The election resulted in the choice of the entire Democratic ticket.
During the summer, July 28, occurred the death of Secretary C. H. Mason,
which plunged the entire territory, particularly the capital, into great grief.
He was a young man, only 29 years of age at the time of his death, and his
conduct during the Indian troubles and his courteous and manly bearing had
endeared him to the people of Olympia.
On July 30, J. M. Swan held an auction of town lots in his addition on the
east side of the bay.
The year 1859 was one of general prosperity for the county. Good crops
prevailed in the country and permanent improvements were inaugurated in the
village.
A brick yard was opened on the east side on Fourth street in Swan's
addition. A good sidewalk was laid up Main street to the capitol.
The tide of immigration that had been suspended for four years again
turned toward Thurston county and enthused the people with the life and vigor of
ante bellum days.
In October General Scott of Mexican War fame visited Olympia on his
mission in connection with the San

p39 c1

Juan question. The Hudson's Bay Company had occupied the Island and insisted
that it was on the British side of the line.
The agitation of Northern Pacific railway continued spasmodically during
the year.
The year 1859 closed with a new character of excitement, which although
brief was none the less intense. The legislature assembled on the first
Wednesday in December and on the 6th of the month, Mr. Short of Clarke county
introduced a bill to remove the territorial capital from Olympia to Vancouver.
There was little likelihood of the bill passing as the people supposed, and
those not regularly members of the lobby or third house paid little attention to
the volcano that was smouldering under them. On the 14th the bill passed the
house by a vote of 19 to 9. The people were alarmed and every effort was made
to defeat the bill in the council which was accomplished on the 30th by a vote
of 5 to 4. A narrow escape! A. A. Denny, who favored Olympia when the question
was first raised four years before, voted for Vancouver.
In the early part of the winter of '59-'60, the town was invested with
that class of nomads, latterly called tramps, or hobos. Several fires occurred.
The old blockhouse at the corner of Main and Fourth streets was burned. On
December 24th a meeting was held at the school house to discuss the project of
organizing a hook and ladder company. As an outgrowth of the agitation of the
question, then instituted, was formed the Alert Hook & Ladder Company. It was
organized with the following officers: Foreman, C. E. Williams; 1st assistant
foreman, John L. Head; 2nd assistant foreman, H. D. Morgan; president, T. M.
Reed; Secretary, A. J. Moses; treasurer, W. G. Dunlap. An attempt to buy a fire

p39 c2

engine failed.
During a session of the legislature this winter the Puget Sound University
was chartered. The trustees organized by the election of D. R. Bigelow.,
chancellor and G. A. Barnes, vice- president. Rev. B. C. Lippencott, was
elected president and general agent. This institution was located on a point of
land opposited the house of L. Offut.
In the spring of 1859 five sharks were caught at Teekalet on Hood's Canal.
In the stomach of one was found a human hand in a perfect state of preservation.
The town of Olympia was incorporated January 29, 1859. By the act of
incorporation the annual town election was to be held on the first Monday in
April. The same act designated Geo. A. Barnes, T. F. McElroy, James Tilton,
Joseph Cushman and Elwood Evans as trustees until the election in April. Joseph
Cushman was elected president of the board. At the April election U. G.
Warbass, Geo. A. Barnes Edwin Marsh, W. G. Dunlap and Isaac Lightner were chosen
trustees; Geo. A. Barnes was elected president of the board and Richard Lane
clerk. Dr. Warbass declined to serve and Elwood Evans was appointed. The
principal work of the board this year was constructing cisterns and laying
sidewalks.
The removal of the blockhouse on Sixth street was proposed but
remonstrated against and it was fitted up for a jail.
Contract to build cisterns at the corners of Second, Third and Fourth
streets with Main street was awarded to Thomas Seeley for $155.

1860.
The year of 1860 brought to the business interests of Thurston county a
period of hard times. An exciting presidential campaign, in the east, coupled
with a reaction from the boom feeling of the previous year produced

p40 c1

a cessation of the stimulus that had urged forward the growth of the county
since the close of the Indian troubles. The people began to agitate the capitol
removal. The year before the scheme to remove it to Vancouver failed by a very
narrow margin, and the question was entering the legislative campaign in each
county.
The year witnessed enormous assessments, the basis taken being too nearly
the boom valuations of the year before. The rate of taxation was 3 mills for
county purposes, 2 mills for schools, 1 mill for court purposes and 1/4 mill for
territorial purposes.
In May the building of Wm. Wright on the corner of Main and Fourth streets
was rented for the offices of sheriff and clerk of the district court.
William Wright resigned the office of county treasurer and T. F. McElroy
was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The county superintendent was appointed agent to locate school lands in
lieu of those taken by settlers; also to locate a quarter section for the
benefit of the county seat.
This summer the town had four churches: Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian
and Episcopal.
At the election this summer the two tickets in the field were the
Democratic and Republican as follows:

DEMOCRATIC.
For representatives: D. L. Phillips, B. F. Ruth, B. L. Henness, U. G
Warbass, M. Z. Goodell, G. T. Grow.
For sheriff: John Aikin.
For school superintendent: R. M. Walker.
For auditor: Richard Lane.
For treasurer: Wm. Wright.
For county commissioner: S. S. Ford Sr.
For probate judge: R M. Walker.
For assessor: A. W. Sargent.

REPUBLICAN.
For representatives: S. D. Ruddell, Gilmore Hays, C. H. Hale, F. W. Brown,

p40 c2

T. P. Berry, Henry Kendall.
For sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For school superintendent: Elwood Evans.
For auditor: W. G. Dunlap.
For treasurer: Geo. A. Barnes.
For county commissioner. Abram Tilley.
For probate judge: D. R. Bigelow.
For assessor. A. B. Powers.
The agitation of the slavery question in the states had its influence in
this far off northwestern territory and although the Democrats had control of
the press of Thurston county the Republicans, so to speak, got in their work,
which, like an entering wedge in later years split their opponents in twain.
Of the above tickets the Democratic was elected with the exception of
Goodell and Grow for representatives and John Aikin for sheriff. Instead of the
former, Gilmore Hayes and C. H. Hale were elected to the legislature and William
Billings secured his first election as sheriff.
The legislature of 1860 took steps towards the erection of a capitol and
appointed a commission for that purpose. August 24th, had been set by the
commission for the opening of bids but prior to that date one of the
commissioners, Geo. Gallagher, was removed from the commission by the governor
and R. M. Walker appointed. Gallagher instituted injunction proceedings to
restrain Walker from acting but his application was denied by Judge 0. B.
McFadden. No satisfactory bid was received for the construction of the capitol
and the matter was passed by.
The federal census taken in the summer of 1860 showed a population for
Thurston county of 1489, being 967 males and 522 females; of the males 621 were
over twenty-one years of age. The population included 145 of foreign birth. The
value of real estate in the

p41 c1

county was $942,990; of personal property; $586,710.
In the fall of this year a daily mail contract from Olympia to Monticello
was awarded to H. Winsor.
In November the Pioneer and Democrat that had been doing noble work for
Thurston county and Democracy for six years was sold by Messrs. Wiley & Furste
to James Lodge.
About the same time John Miller Murphy, encouraged by hopeful Republicans
came over from Portland and established the Washington Standard and at once
began battling for Olympia, Thurston county and Washington Territory.
Politically it was Republican and was a firm supporter of Lincoln's
administration during the civil war. Its day of publication was Friday and it
is now Mr. Murphy's boast that during the ups and downs of his newspaper
experiences at Olympia, the Standard has never missed an issue; has never
failed, during the lapse of thirty-four years, to supply the good families of
Thurston county with their regular Sunday reading.
Notwithstanding the general feeling of hard times during the year 1860,
the people went forward with improvements. Streets were opened by the removal
of stumps and in a limited and unsystematic way more or less grading was done.
A foot bridge to Swantown was constructed. The trustees elected at the spring
election were: Geo. A. Barnes, Elwood Evans, W. G. Dunlap, Isaac Lightner and
Edwin Marsh. Mr. Evans was chosen president. Wm. Billings was chosen marshal
and D. R. Bigelow, police magistrate.

1861.
The year 1861 was one of particular interest to Thurston county, as it was
to the United States. The war cloud hovering in the east cast its mighty shadow
over Puget Sound. But aside

p41 c2

from this, Olympia bad two contests on hand to maintain her supremacy.
Oregon, the mother territory, particularly Portland had not entirely
abandoned the idea of securing the capital of Washington at Vancouver and when
the legislature of 1860-61 convened, early in December, a bill was introduced
with that purpose in view. The bill passed both houses and received the
executive approval. How thoroughly Portland had done the work will be seen from
the fact that the same legislature removed the penitentiary from Vancouver to
Port Townsend and located the state university at Seattle.
Soon after the legislature adjourned it was discovered that the bill
changing the capital to Vancouver had inadvertently no enacting clause and, as
enrolled, bore no date. In December 1861 the Supreme Court met at Olympia and
in one case a plea to the jurisdiction of the court was entered, on the ground
that the seat of government had been removed to Vancouver. This brought
squarely before the court the sufficiency of the act of removal. The plea was
overruled, thereby establishing the position that the capital still remained at
Olympia.
The legislature this winter cut off the south part of Thurston county and
attached the territory to Lewis county.
In July the question of capital location was submitted to the voters of
the territory. The whole number of votes cast was 2315. Olympia received 1239,
Vancouver 639, Steilacoom 253. The balance were given to Port Townsend, Walla
Walla, and Seattle.
During the spring of 1861 the permanent location of the county seat was
agitated and at the May term of the county commissioners the citizens of
Tumwater addressed the following communication to the board:
"We, the undersigned agree to pay

p42 c1

the material and land set opposite our names for the benefit of Thurston county,
W. T., provided the county buildings are located at Tumwater at the next annual
election, to-wit: Smith Hays, 39 M feet of lumber; Ira Ward, 30 M shingles; C.
Crosby, 4 blocks of land 240 feet square; Nelson Barnes, 5 M feet of cedar
lumber; Dudley Barnes, 5 M feet of cedar lumber; John Scott $25 to be paid in
lumber: E. Eastman $50 to be paid in blacksmithing; Biles & Carter $50 to be
paid in lumber." C. Crosby and wife filed with the county commissioners a bond
in the sum of $4000 conditioned for the delivery of a deed in case Tumwater was
selected.
At the same session of the board, Elwood Evans, president of the board of
trustees of Olympia, addressed a communication to the county board offering to
donate the public square to the county on condition that the county buildings
should be located at Olympia. This proposition had been voted upon by the town
at the annual meeting in April and carried.
The board ordered the propositions of Olympia and Tumwater submitted at
the annual election in July. The result of the election was: Olympia, .344:
Tumwater, 104; West Olympia, 4.
When the board met in November, the deed to the public square not having
been made by the town of Olympia, the county commissioners did not officially
declare the county seat established but adjourned subject to call. A proper
conveyance having been presented to the auditor, that officer called a special
session of the board for December 7, at which time Olympia was declared the
county seat and the auditor was authorized to advertise for 200,000 brick and
propositions to lay the same for the purpose of building a jail.
The attaching of a portion of the county to Lewis county removed one

p42 c2

of the county commissioners, James Biles, whereupon the governor appointed C. B.
Baker of Mound Prairie to fill the vacancy. Mr. Baker had not signified his
acceptance when the May term convened, and a full board being deemed necessary,
Mr. Biles, although technically a resident of Lewis county, acted as chairman of
the board. The rate of taxation was fixed at 3 mills for county purposes 2
mills for schools, 1 mill for court and 1 mill for territorial purposes.
The legislature of 1861 had extended the terms of county officers to two
years, so that only members of the legislature and county commissioners were to
be elected this year. Only two tickets were in the field:

DEMOCRATIC.
For Representatives: B. F. Ruth, T. M. Reed, A. S. Yantis, Oliver Shead
and Wm. Cock.

REPUBLICAN.
For Representatives: Wm. McLain, C. Ward, H. Kandle and D. Kiser.
For County Commissioners: G. W. French and G. W. Miller.

The election resulted in the choice of Ruth, Yantis, Cock and McLain for
representatives. French and Miller were elected county commissioners.
During the summer of 1861 the Overland Press was established at Olympia by
A. M. Poe.
The legislature of 1861 created a school district of Olympia. It was
proposed to have Rev. B. C. Lippencott carry on the public school in connection
with his Puget Sound Institute but the citizens petitioned against it. The
matter was harmonized by him changing the character of his advertisement and he
taught the public school at a salary of $200.
At the spring election E. Evans, T. M. Reed, B. Harned, A. Frankee and S.
W. Percival were elected trustees and Mr. Evans re-elected president of the
board. R. Lane was chosen clerk,

p43 c1

Wm. Billings, marshal, and W. G. Dunlap, committing magistrate, The proposition
to donate the public square to the county for a court house was carried by a
vote of 99 to 1.
The town board, ex officio the school board, elected Mrs. Lizzie B. Smith
for teacher and Messrs. Reed, Percival and Frankee were appointed a committee to
wait upon her and inform her of the election.
This summer the federal troops were withdrawn from Steilacoom and the
people were more or less alarmed over another Indian War. The spring of 1861
opened with considerable apprehension for the future of Olympia as a town but
with bright prospects for the country. Immigration was turning hitherward and
the labors of the farmer had been blessed with a fair harvest. The year closed
with firmer convictions for a prosperous future. The territory had witnessed a
fair growth and of this Thurston county had its share. By a report published at
the end of 1861 there were 53 post offices in the territory and 9 of them were
in Thurston county.

1862.
The subject of building a court house was agitated early in the winter of
1862. As the question of site was an important one, serious defects in the title
to the block donated by the town were discovered. The block was donated
originally, in 1850, by Edmund Sylvester as a public park and was to be used
only as such. No power reposed in the town to use if for any other purpose, but
in 1861 when Tumwater was bidding for the county seat the board of trustees
offered the public square as a counter proposition and soon after the deed was
made, its nullity was discovered. At the February session of the commissioners
there was considered the proposition to purchase the Wesleyan Institute property
on the corner of

p43 c2

Union and Washington streets. But the title was found to be imperfect and there
being no funds with which to purchase the ground, the matter was laid over until
the May term. Title then passed and a county warrant far $1,000 was drawn. The
contract for fitting up the building for court house purposes was let to
Benjamin Harned.
More or less trouble had grown up through selling liquor to Indians, when
they visited the town, and on February 2nd, Superintendent of Indian affairs, B.
F. Kendall, gave notice to the town trustees that unless the practice ceased he
would remove every Indian from the village. This order if carried out would
have removed many efficient servants and been a hardship to most families.
This year F. M. Sargent resigned the office of county treasurer and S. W,
Percival was appointed to fill the vacancy.
In the spring of 1862 the town of Olympia was stirred to an exciting pitch
by a course of lectures delivered by C. H. DeWolf and wife on the subject of
sexual equality and a sensation was created by Mrs. DeWolf riding through the
streets astride a horse and clothed in nearly man's attire.
In 1862 occurred the election of a full county ticket. Party conventions
were held early and the following tickets placed in nomination:

DEMOCRATIC.
Joint Councilman. (Lewis and Chehalis) 0. B. McFadden.
Representatives: James Longmire, C. P. Judson, C. Etheridge, William Cock.
Sheriff: Chas. Granger (Ind.), J. L, Head.
Auditor: R. Lane, W. Kappus (Id).
Treasurer: R. Willard.
County Surveyor: J. S. Hurd.
County Commissioner: J. M. Hawk.

REPUBLICAN.
Joint Councilman: (Lewis and Chehalis)

p44 c1

D. R. Bigelow.
Representatives: Wm. McLain, T. Hunt, H. Kandle.
Sheriff: R. W. Moxlie.
Auditor: A. W. Moore.
Treasurer: S. W. Percival.
County Surveyor: Edwin Marsh.
Pros. Attorney: B. F. Dennison.
County Commissioner: S. D. Ruddell.

The election resulted in the choice of McFadden for councilman: McLain,
Hunt, Kandle and Longmire for representatives; Moxlie for sheriff: Moore for
auditor; Percival for treasurer; Marsh for surveyor; Dennison for attorney and
Ruddell for commissioner.
The subject of railroad connection with the Columbia river was agitated
this year and a meeting called at Steilacoom but like so many previous railroad
agitations it ended only in talk.
On October 18, the communities in Thurston county were shocked to learn of
the death of Ex-Governor I. I. Stevens, who was killed at no battle of
Chantilly, September 1. A public meeting was called and suitable memorial
exercises held.
During the year an organized effort was made to raise funds by
contributions to aid the federal soldiers. The total amount raised in the
county up to October was $2,210.08.
The year 1862 drew to a close amid the gloom of a double tragedy. B. F.
Kendall had become the publisher of the Overland Press. Early in December he
had charged, in his paper, that one Horace Howe had burned the buildings of the
Puget Sound Agricultural Company in Lewis county. On the 20th Howe saw Kendall
on the street near the Pacific house, at the corner of Main and Third streets
and, during an excited controversy, hit Kendall with a switch he had in his
hand. Kendall ran, Howe after him. Kendall had run but a short distance

p44 c2

when he pulled a pistol, wheeled and fired four shots at his assailant, one of
them entering Howe's left side. From the first it was thought that the wound
was fatal but Howe finally recovered. Kendall's version of the encounter, as
published in his own paper, exasperated Howe's friends and on January 8, 1863,
Howe's son entered Kendall's office and asked to see him privately. The two
entered a side room when shortly a pistol shot was heard. Howe came out, saying
"I shot him in self defense." Kendall died. Young Howe was arrested and bound
over to the district court. Bail was furnished and he set at liberty. He left
Olympia and before the convening of the district court, a report was put in
circulation, backed by a shadow of evidence, that he was dead and the case
against him was dismissed. Kendall was a man of a combative disposition and
although of marked ability was very vindictive. There was a suspicion among the
residents at the time that his murder was the carrying out of a plot laid by his
enemies among a certain faction of politicians. The pistol young Howe used was
recognized as belonging to a prominent official in the land office.
The town trustees were: G. A. Barnes, Jos. Cushman, James Tilton, C. E.
Williams and W. G. Dunlap. Mr. Barnes was chosen president, R. Lane, clerk, H.
M. McGill, magistrate and W. B. Gosnell, marshall. In June Mr. Dunlap died and
David Phillips was elected in his place.
In October the teacher employed was paid $1000 per annum as follows: $90
per quarter out of the school fund and a pro rate charge per scholar sufficient
to raise $160 per quarter- a total of $250 per quarter.
The history of Thurston county for the next few years is soon written.
The terrible history that was being made at the federal capital and on

p45 c1

battle fields held the attention of the ,straggling settlements in this far off
region.
The attention of the county commissioners was given to providing roads.
Agriculture was engaged in a limited way. The principal industry of the county
during these years, as for the preceding ten years, was logging. The getting
out of ship timbers for the San Francisco Market was lucrative.
Social equality exists nowhere but it is as nearly equal among pioneers as
anywhere. It is not necessary to recount how a hunter shared a carcass of
venison with his neighbors or how all classes mingle at the church social or the
giddy dance.
Another social gathering at which the pioneers experienced unlimited
enjoyment was the clam bake and although that occasion lost its old time
frequency, it is still the common gathering of the common people, at which
wealth and station are laid aside.
It is not necessary to add that during these times politics were hot. A
community composed largely of federal office holders had no dearth of political
excitement.
In 1863 the tickets in the field were the Union and Democratic. It being
an off year only representatives, a county commissioner and a probate judge were
elected. The nominees were:

UNION.
For Representatives: C. Crosby, H. M. McGill, Wm. McLain.
For County Commissioner: Joseph Gibson.
For Probate Judge: F. M. Sargent.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Representatives: B. F. Ruth, R. Willard, C. P. Judson.
For Probate Judge: R. M. Walker.

The entire Union ticket was elected.
In May, A. W. Moore was appointed

p45 c2

to locate schools lands in lieu of those taken by donation claimants.
At the town election this year Joseph Cushman, C. E. Williams, B. Harned,
Samuel Holmes and Wm. Mitchell were elected trustees. Mr. Cushman was chosen
president, R. Lane clerk, F. M. Sargent, magistrate, and John Shealy, town
marshal. In October, Mr. Shealy was requested to resign owing to an
unsatisfactory condition of his accounts, and W. J. Yaeger appointed in his
place.
This year J. P. Judson was elected teacher, and was authorized to collect
from the scholars a sum sufficient to make his salary $80 per month; also enough
for an assistant to make her salary $120 per quarter, in addition to the $50
allowed by law.
The committee on schools, of the town board, examined teachers and issued
certificates.
The year 1864 in the Puget Sound country was one of remarkable quiet so
far as making history was concerned.
A tri weekly mail contract direct to Portland was awarded to H. Winsor of
Olympia.
A woolen factory and a road across the mountains were agitated but neither
materialized.
The usual interest was manifest over the county election, at which the
following tickets were placed in nomination:

REPUBLICAN.
For Representatives: C. Crosby, S. D. Ruddle, F. M. Rhodes.
For Sheriff: J. H. Kellett.
For County Commissioner: J. Dunlap.
For Auditor: A. W. Moore.
For Treasurer: S. W. Percival.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Representatives: J. Tilton, J. Longmire, W. Young.
For Sheriff: B. F. Ruth.
For County Commissioner: W. Mitchell.

p46 c1

For Auditor: R. Lane.
For Treasurer: I. Lightner.

The Republican ticket was elected except A. W. Moore for auditor. The
result on representative between Rhodes and Longmire was a tie. At a subsequent
special election Mr. Rhodes was elected.
The national anniversary was duly celebrated and at the close the
enthusiastic Republicans embraced the opportunity to organize a Lincoln &
Johnson club which flourished during the campaign albeit the people had no vote
for presidential electors. The Republicans throughout the county engaged in a
general jollification At Tumwater the explosion of a cannon inflicted an injury
to Dudley Barnes.
In -November the town was thrown into an excitement over the discovery of
gold in the Natchez Pass in the Cascades, seventy miles from Olympia. Large
numbers of residents went to the mines and for a few months Olympia, Steilacoom
and Seattle were nearly depopulated of their male residents. But the excitement
was of short duration.
At the town election the trustees chosen were: L. D. Durgin, Jesse
Chapman, H. M. McGill, A. J. Burr and Edward Giddings. Mr. Giddings was chosen
president; R. Lane, clerk; Jesse Chapman, treasurer; J. L. Head marshal and F.
M. Sargeant, magistrate.
This board passed the first Sunday closing ordinance.
There existed in those days at the corner of Main and Fourth streets a
large spring from which the village was supplied with water. In May 1864 the
committee on streets was instructed to build a reservoir at the spring and place
a pump over it for the convenience of the citizens. Social lines were then not
very definitely drawn and the gatherings at this town

p46 c2

pump were indeed miscellaneous. The federal official joshed with the day
laborer and probably his beautiful daughter flirted with the dusky Siwash.
Since then the Chambers building has been erected over the spring.
For teachers the clerk was directed to advertise for proposals. Three
proposals were received but J. P. Judson was selected for the first term. Rates
of tuition for each term were established at $2 to $3 in the primary department
and $4 to $5 in the Senior department. For the second and third terms D. J.
Hubbard was selected principal.

1865.
The early part of 1865 was noted at Olympia for the satisfaction enjoyed
at the prospects for a speedy termination of the civil war. Joy at the fall of
Richmond and grief at the murder of the president were the same here as in other
parts of the Union.
The subject of a wagon road over the Cascades was again brought in the
range of current gossip and speculation. On July 4 the ladies of Olympia gave a
calico ball at the Olympic Hotel the proceeds to go toward opening such a road
through Natchez Pass. The net proceeds were $120. People on the other side of
the mountains were anxious to have the road put through. Up to this time $800
had been subscribed by Thurston county, besides $500 by Pierce county. The road
was completed this summer.
The county election was warm and exciting. Hon. A. A. Denny of Seattle
was the Republican candidate for Congress, while James Tilton of Olympia was the
Democratic nominee. The number of votes polled in the county was 362: Denny
220, Tilton 142.
The following tickets were nominated:

REPUBLICAN.
For Councilman: S. S. Ford, Sr.

p47 c1

For Representatives: Wm. McLain, G. W. Miller, S. D. Ruddle.
For County Commissioners: A. Tilley, W. S. Parsons.
For School Superintendent: D. R. Bigelow.
For Coroner: Robert Frost.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Councilman: B. F. Yantis.
For Representatives: D. Chambers, Wm. Waddell, Jos. Longmire.
For County Commissioner: J. M. Hawk.
For School Superintendent: Robert G. Head.
For Coroner: A. J. Baldwin.

The election resulted in the choice of the Republican ticket.
In July the Republicans were on the qui vive over an expected visit from
Hon. Schuyler Colfax, then speaker of the national house of representatives. The
party was met at Tumwater by a delegation from Olympia and escorted to the
capital amid the booming of cannon. An elaborate reception was held and the
distinguished visitor made one of his characteristic addresses.
The close of the Civil War and the subsidence of the war feeling brought a
renewed enthusiasm to the settlements in Thurston county. Prices were good; the
lumber industry revived and on all hands was the evidence of coming prosperity.
Heretofore, and at this time the larger per cent of the inhabitants of the
territory were of the male sex. During the summer of 1865 A. S. Mercer of
Seattle conceived the idea of bringing hither the widows and orphans of the east
who were left destitute by the war. It was urged that homes for them could be
provided in this great northwest and that there was a demand for wives and
domestic help. Mr. Mercer had visited Boston and sent back word that he would
soon leave the Hub with a large party

p47 c2

of widows and young ladies. Meetings were held in different parts of the
territory to inaugurate a concerted move to receive and procure homes for them.
At Olympia a committee was appointed to act with a like committee at Seattle.
The Olympia committee consisted of Elwood Evans and wife, D. R. Bigelow and
wife, T. F. McElroy and wife, T. M. Reed and wife, Francis Henry and wife, G. A.
Barnes and wife, James Biles and wife and Henry Winsor and wife. A meeting was
held in the M. E. Church at which B. F. Brown was chairman and a committee
appointed to canvass the county for homes for the widows and orphans. Homes in
the county were found for eighty.
In due time Mr. Mercer with his ship load of Boston girls arrived having
made the trip around Cape Horn. Olympia being the principal place on the Sound
the most of them, about 300 in number. were brought here. Homes were readily
found for them and they rapidly assimilated with the population.
In December a panic struck the lumber camps of Puget Sound owing to a
decision of a California court that the export of lumber and spars produced from
United States land be taxed $2.50 per M.
In December the Washington Standard moved to its present headquarters at
the corner of Washington and Second streets.
This year the commissioners levied a county tax of 4 mills; school tax of
2 mills and a road tax of 2 1/2 mills.
In May commissioner Joseph Gibson resigned,
No public schools opened this year owing to a lack of funds. The school
house was leased to Misses Giddings and Slocum for a select school. During the
summer the school house was considered unsafe and it was lowered four feet and
repaired and painted.

p48 c1

The town trustees elected this spring were: Charles Wood, U. E. Hicks, J.
R. Wood, B. F. Yantis and Robert Frost. Mr. Yantis was chosen president: U. E.
Hicks, treasurer; R. Lane clerk, and W. J. Yaeger, marshal. This board
purchased a fire engine and levied a school tax of 1 1/2 mills.

1866.
The year 1866 opened with the full quota of excitement over the split
between President Johnson and congress. Olympia was largely a community of
federal officers and the town probably contained as much politics to the square
inch as any town in the United States, possibly excepting the federal capital.
The Standard, that had been the Republican organ during the troublesome times
since it was established championed the position taken by the president, but a
large element in the party took the side of congress. The result was that early
in the spring three county tickets were in the field as follows:

REPUBLICAN.
Representatives: A. W. Cairnes, J. M. Shotwell, Samuel James.
Sheriff: J. H. Kellett.
Auditor: L. D. Durgin.
Probate Judge: J. G. Sparks.
Treasurer: C. E. Williams.
County Commissioner: R. Frost.

DEMOCRATIC.
Representatives: Jas. Longmire, B. F. Ruth, F. Henry.
Sheriff: B. L. Henness.
Auditor: P. F. Turpin.
Probate Judge: C. P. Judson.
Treasurer: I. Lightner.
County Commissioner: R. Waddell.

BOLTERS.
Representatives: J. Wood, H. Hitchcock, G. French.
Sheriff: J. H. Kellett.
Auditor: E. T. Gunn.
Probate Judge: D. R. Bigelow.
Treasurer: J. H. Munson

p48 c2

County Commissioner: H. G. Parsons.

The Republicans were nominated by the supporters of the president; the
Bolters supported the opposition. The entire Democratic ticket was elected
except Mr. Henness for sheriff.
In February 1866 the fire company came out with a bran new fire engine.
The periodic agitation of a Northern Pacific railroad was began this year
and ended like so many of its predecessors.
The system of water works for the town was put in this summer and the town
pump that had been so faithful in its service was abandoned.
At the April meeting of the commissioners the trustees of the town asked
the county for an appropriation of $800 for a bridge to Swantown. The
appropriation was made. At this meeting of the board the following bounties for
wild animals was allowed, to-wit: Wild cat, $1; cayote, $2.50: wolf, $4; cougar,
$5; a grown bear, $2; a cub, $1. Fifty cents extra was allowed for each scalp,
to pay for the certificate.
At the July meeting the sheriff was ordered to compel delinquent Chinamen
to work upon the roads.
This summer Harriet F. Stevens opened a private school. In September
Mercie Slocum opened a term of school in the school house.
On October 26th, S. S. Ford, the pioneer and a member of the legislative
council was called to his long reward. The governor called a special election
to choose a successor. William H. Mitchell was nominated by the Johnson party
and Democrats and George A. Barnes by the Republicans. Mitchell was elected by
a majority of twenty-three; ten in Thurston county and thirteen in Lewis county.
On December 20th, 1866, occurred the highest tide known at Olympia since
its first settlement. The water was six inches deep on the floor of Bettman's
store, Main street, between

p49 c1

First and Second.
Early in the year the town treasurer reported $197 in the school fund and
it was ordered that the teachers be paid $175 legal tender, equal to $122.50 in
coin and charge pro rata to each pupil sufficient to make a total of $300 for
the term.
In March Columbia Engine Company was organized and the trustees asked to
deliver the engine, recently purchased, to its keeping or to A. J. Baldwin, its
foreman; the request was granted. George Biles was awarded the contract for
making a hose for the engine.
At the spring election George A. Barnes, T. M. Reed, Isaac Lightner,
Benjamin Harned and A. J. Baldwin were chosen trustees. Mr. Barnes was elected
president; Mr. Reed, treasurer and Richard Lane, clerk.
The committee on schools employed L. P. Venen at a salary of $400 per
quarter.

1867.
The year of 1867 was pregnant with rather more items of public interest
and local historical importance than either of the few preceding years.
The subject of manufacturing establishments was brought forward and like
previous agitations, the agitation agitated. This year it was a carding factory
at either Olympia or Tumwater.
At the town election in March, F. Henry, G. A. Barnes, Albert Robb, J. G.
Parker and J. M. Hawk were elected trustees. The people also voted upon a three
mill tax for a philosophical apparatus for the school house but it was voted
down.
The political campaign started in early. The Republican party was still
divided over the president's policy, but only one ticket was placed in the
field; supporters of the president drifted into the Democratic ranks. The
following were the tickets:

p49 c2

REPUBLICAN.
Councilman: Wm. McLane.
Representatives: Ira Ward, J. E. Baker, H. Hitchcock.
Sheriff: J. H. Kellett.
County Commissioners: Jas. Dunlap, E. N. Sargent, G. W. French.
Auditor: A. W. Moore.
Treasurer. Wm. White.
Probate Judge: D. R. Bigelow.
School Sup't: D. R. Bigelow.

DEMOCRATIC.
Councilman: James Longmire.
Representatives: F. Henry, E. A. Young, A. O'Neal.
Sheriff: B. F. Ruth.
County Commissioners: A. W. Cairnes, L. D. Barnard, J. M. Shotwell.
Auditor: P. Turpin.
Treasurer: I. Lightner.
Probate Judge. C. P. Judson.
School Sup't: R. Lane.
The election, warm and exciting, re- in the choice of McLane for the
council; Henry, Ward and Baker for the house; Kellett for sheriff; Cairnes,
Shotwell and Dunlap for county commissioners; Turpin, auditor; Lightner,
treasurer; Bigelow for probate judge and school superintendent. While Mr.
McLane was granted the certificate of election, the democrats insisted there had
been fraudulent work in Lewis county and Longmire brought a contest. When the
council met in December it declared McLane's seat vacant and a new election was
called for January 6th, 1868. In canvassing the vote of the special election
the canvassers threw out the vote of Tumwater precinct owing to irregularities
and alleged illegal votes. This gave Longmire 189 votes in this county to
McLane's 185. In Lewis county Longmire received 81 votes to McLane's 86, McLane
thus receiving a majority of one in the district. Longmire contested the
election and the council adopted a minority report of the committee on elections
which

p50 c1

recommended that the matter be referred back to the people to be again voted on
at the next general election.
The work of improvement went on during the year. Packwood's pass through
the Cascades was brought to the attention of overland travelers. A renewed
interest was taken in immigration - a subject that had languished during the
stormy years of the civil war. Descriptions of the country were published and
generally circulated and the whilom enthusiasm of other times again became
dominant.
A Fourth of July celebration was held this year but like too many others
in other parts of the Union, it was marred by a reference to the political
situation.
On the night of October 10th, when the Eliza Anderson came up to the wharf
about eleven o'clock, a general, though temporary panic ensued by the falling in
of the wharf. Several injuries resulted, but none seriously.
In November Messrs. Gunn & Gale established the Transcript, a radical
Republican paper. The Standard that had fought the Republican battles during
the preceding seven years had espoused the coarse of President Johnson and been
drawn into the Democratic fold.
The Daily Tribune under the management of Charles Prosch, was established
this fall to help along the immigration movement.
On November 15, the people were called upon to mourn the death of one
whose hardships and privations had paved the way for the prosperity so many now
enjoyed. M. T. Simmons, who lived in Lewis county, on that day passed to his
long and eternal rest.
The position of the school house was this year changed to face the east.
The street committee of the town [called?] upon the county commissioners [to
solicit?]aid for a new Swantown

p50 c2

bridge. The county refused aid, but offered to loan the town $1,000 or $1,500
at 1 per cent. The proposition was accepted and the contract to build the
bridge awarded to E. L. Finch.
In August the town made a loan of $500 from Thomas Prather and in November
borrowed $1,000 from the county to be used in paying for the bridge to the east
side.
The settlements in the southeast corner of the county had so increased
that an election precinct, called Coal Bank, was created.
At the August meeting the proceedings of the commissioners was ordered
published in the two newspapers of the county, Standard and Tribune, provided
each of them would accept $10 per year for the work. Newspaper rivalry, aroused
in part by the political feeling of the day, had become so intense that there
was a fair prospect for county work being done for a low figure and in February
1868 the auditor was instructed to have the printing done where it could be done
the cheapest.

1868.
The legislative session of 1867-68 will ever be a memorable one in the
history of Washington and there it belongs rather than in the history of
Thurston county. P. B. Johnson of Walla Walla was Speaker of the House and C.
M. Bradshaw of Port Townsend, President of the Council. Political excitement
was at a fever heat throughout the territory and it permeated the legislative
chambers. Members sat at their desks with cocked pistols in their hands,
presiding officers were dethroned and the pandemonium of a bear garden often
held sway. The late Judge C. C. Hewitt had become objectionable to the great
mass of the Democrats and the legislature transferred him to Stevens county, in
the wilds of

p51 c1

northeastern Washington. After adjournment of the legislature he visited the
federal capital and had the reapportionment set aside and returned to Olympia.
Personal encounters between individuals were common and the streets and saloons
of Olympia were made the scenes of tragedy and comedy. Olympia was a town then
of 500 population but there existed three newspapers, all political. Each small
faction of federal office holders felt the need of an organ and an organ it had.
During the summer of 1868 the Marshville bridge was again brought to the
front in town politics. The town was already joshed by its neighbors down the
sound for attempting improvements and not pushing them to completion. The work
went rapidly forward and was completed in May, 1869, with a draw over the
channel.
The presidential campaign in the east was a warm and exciting one in
Thurston county. Several men, prominent in politics changed their political
affiliations as did others throughout the states.
In January Prof. Venen was re-elected teacher with Misses Slocum and
O'Neal as assistants.
The town trustees were: G. A. Barnes, Wm. Mitchell, C. E. Williams, Benj.
Harned and C. H. Hale. Mr. Barnes was reelected president; Richard Lane, clerk,
and Mr. Williams, treasurer.
The delay in completing the Swantown bridge had exasperated the traveling
public and Capt. Finch was notified in June that unless the bridge was completed
in thirty days he would forfeit all unpaid amounts.
For some time the establishing of a carding factory had been agitated and
in March, 1868 machinery arrived, the enterprise being inaugurated by A. L.
Phillips. It, however did not materialize. Every community has its

p51 c2

croakers, who see nothing good in what is proposed; whose tendencies are to
discourage enterprises rather than encourage them. Such men were in Olympia and
Tumwater in those days and through them Mr. Phillips became discouraged and
abandoned his carding factory project.
The bounties offered in 1866 for scalps of wild animals had been earned in
a number of instances by Indians and suspicions arose that many of them were
caught in neighboring counties and in May, 1868, the board ordered that in the
future no bounties be paid to Indians unless on the evidence of white testimony
that the animals were caught in Thurston county.
In May, the board took the initiative for erecting county buildings, and
ordered that plans and proposals for a court house and jail, either singly or
combined be received at the August term. At the August term, however, plans
were not examined but the auditor was directed to advertise for plans for a two
story jail.
In November, 1868, the old block house that had stood for twelve years at
the corner of Main and Sixth streets was razed and the lumber used to plank Main
street just above Thirteenth. For some years the old building had been
stigmatized as a nuisance but the memories surrounding its erection had
permitted it to stand. It was used for years as a city jail or lock up and,
even though It was generally lightly spoken of, there was a loud murmur of
disapproval when it was taken down.
On January 1, 1869 D. B. Finch of Olympia, who had for years run
steamboats on the Sound gave the Olympic building to the Good Templars on
condition that the lodge fit up and maintain it as a public reading room. Such
an institution was much needed and the liberality of Mr. Finch

52 c1

in this direction was very generally commended. The room was opened and
dedicated to the public on the 19th of the following July.

1869.
In January, 1869 Wm. Billings took the contract to build a timber jail, 16
x 20 feet, to contain two cells to be located on the county property at the
corner of Union and Washington streets.
As illustrating the value of property at this time it might be noted that
a five acre tract near the capitol belonging to C. J. Allen sold in February
1869 for $5000.
This winter a strange coincidence happened to the families of G. W. and
John French, who lived down the bay on the west side about a mile and a half
apart. Both were farmers and about two o'clock in the afternoon, a son of each
accidentally cut off the two middle fingers of one hand. Both accidents were
inflicted by the knives of straw cutters, one on each farm.
In March, 1868, the fire company began the agitation of a town hall and
engine house. The sum of $500 was borrowed by the town with which to buy a
site. A lot on Fourth street between Washington and Franklin was purchased with
the understanding that twenty feet on the west side were to be transferred to
Charles Burmeister for $200. In August a further loan of $1000 was made from
Thomas Hartley for the purpose of completing the hall. Rabbeson and Clark were
awarded the contract for its erection for $6500. The building, completed during
the fall, on November 26 was dedicated by a ball and supper. The building was a
valuable addition to the town. The upper story contained a. hall and the
necessary ante rooms. Below were rooms for the engine, hook and ladder company
and a few offices. Since its erection the building has been convenient in many

p52 c2

ways. Until 1890 the hall served the purpose of an opera house, while a room on
the first floor was and is still used as a city council chamber.
The spring of '69 witnessed another railroad agitation. The Columbia
river and Puget Sound railroad company desired a puget sound terminus and on
April 1, a meeting was held at Olympia and a committee of thirteen appointed to
canvass for donations of land on condition that the terminus be located on
Budd's Inlet near Olympia. The committee appointed consisted of: 0. B.
McFadden, C. H. Hale, Joseph Cushman, S. D. Howe, James Biles, G. W. French, H.
Hartley, Clanrick Crosby Jr., A. J. Chambers, Wm. H. Mitchell, C. C. Hewitt, P.
D Moore and J. H. Cleale.
In the spring of 1869 after the inauguration of President Grant there took
place a complete break up of official and social relations at Olympia. The
adherents to President Johnson were removed and more intense partisans put in
their places.
The congressional campaign in the territory that summer was exceedingly
warm and exciting, as was the campaign for county officers. Selucius A.
Garfielde was the Republican candidate for delegate to congress, and ex-Governor
Moore the Democratic nominee. Garfielde was elected. The county tickets were:

REPUBLICAN.
For Councilman: J. Scammons.
For Representatives: L. A. Treen. W. Peck.
For County Commissioners: G. A. Barnes, C. Crosby Sr., S. Hodgdon.
For Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For Treasurer, B. Bettman.
For Auditor: A. A. Phillips.
For Probate Judge D. R. Bigelow.
For School Superintendent: D. R. Bigelow.
For Surveyor: F. W. Brown.
For Coroner: C. Wood.

p53 c1

DEMOCRATIC.
For Councilman: Jason Fry.
For Representatives: Levi Shelton, M. Z. Goodell.
For County Commissioners: A. J. Chambers, A. S. Yantis, H. E. Griffin.
For Sheriff: D. T. Drewry.
For Treasurer: J. H. Munson.
For Auditor: P. Turpin.
For Probate Judge: C. P. Judson.
For School Superintendent: R. Lane.
For Surveyor: F. Henry.
For Coroner, Wm. Yaeger.
The entire Republican ticket was elected.
The assessed valuation of the county for 1869 was $911,129, an increase
over the previous year of $123,267.
At the February term the board of county commissioners appointed C. Crosby
of Tumwater bridge commissioner to construct a bridge across the Inlet at
Tumwater and appropriated $1000 therefor; additional subscriptions were made to
the amount of $3266.
The new board that came into office that summer appropriated $300 for a
safe for the treasurer.
Owing to the distance from the business center, since the purchase of the
Wesleyan Institute property on Union street a sentiment had grown up in favor of
other locations for the county buildings. Accordingly in 1869 the sum of $333
was appropriated to buy lot 3, block 36 for the purpose of a county jail, the
auditor to advertise for plans. Daniel House was awarded the contract to clear
the lot for $750. At the November term the plans for a jail were examined and
none being satisfactory the auditor was directed to readvertise. He was also
directed to advertise for a loan of $8000 for the Purpose of erecting a jail.
At the February term, 1870, plans for a jail were adopted and the contract to
erect the same awarded to R. A. Abbott.

p53 c2

At the same time the chairman of the board was directed to borrow $7000 for not
less than two years at not more than one and one-half per cent per month.
The growth of Olympia up to this time had been such that there now came a demand
for the definite location of streets. Accordingly the town council ordered a
survey of the town site and land marks set at all street corners at such a
distance from the true corner of the block as the corner of the sidewalk would
be when a ten- foot sidewalk was laid.
This summer the board passed an ordinance restraining cattle from running
at large in the streets except milk cows. A tax of S2.50 was levied on each
dog.
Besides the town hall this year there was built a new hotel by Hill Harmon
on the corner of Main and Fourth streets.
There was throughout the county a general building activity and the saw
mills were kept busy supplying the local demand. Improvements at Tumwater were
pushed forward and the mill there could not supply the demand for lumber.
This summer Louis Bettman and family paid a visit to their old home in
Germany and upon their return in September were greeted with a warm welcome.
This summer the business interests began the agitation of a long wharf to
deep water. Public sentiment was divided as to which street it should extend
from. Main street men of course desired it to extend from the foot of that
street. Washington street was a candidate and its property owners argued that
Main street was already well built up as far as Fourth street and that above
that point lots were held at too high a figure to justify their use and that
Washington should be favored in order to encourage the growth of

p54 c1

business in that locality. It was proposed to ask the legislature at its next
session to charter a $10,000 company in shares of $100 each.
The Echo, a temperance newspaper established in 1867 by Francis Cook,
suspended publication this fall.
In December 1869 G. A. Barnes began the erection of the first brick
building in town, to be used as a banking house, which was completed the
following summer.
The town administration this year consisted of G. A. Barnes, F. Henry, S.
W. Percival, R. Frost and J. M. Murphy as trustees; Mr. Henry, president, and
Mr. Percival, treasurer; R. Lane, was elected clerk.
The school opened in the fall of 1869 with two teachers, Mr. Hoover as
principal and Mary O'Neal, assistant.
During the summer the Swantown bridge was considered unsafe and the
proposition to build a new one was considered.
As the town hall approached completion another $500 was borrowed to pay
for it.

1870.
The year 1870 witnessed the inauguration of many movements that had a very
perceptible influence in shaping the future history of Olympia and Thurston
county. The people had never abandoned the idea of being in the very near
future, at the Puget Sound terminus of the Northern Pacific railroad although in
several instances was exemplified the truth of the proverb: Hope long deferred
maketh the heart sick.
The federal census of 1870 showed Olympia with a population of 1203 and a
population of 2246 in the county. The village of Tumwater contained 206.
Olympia had a school of two teachers and seventy live pupils and a private
school with as many more; three churches with Masonic, Odd Fellows and Good
Templars lodges;

p54 c2

five newspapers with the usual number of business houses of all kinds. Business
was good. It was the supply station of the logging camps in the Sound country.
At the time Seattle had a population of only 1142 with only 2164 in King county.
The site of Tacoma was still the hiding place of wild beasts.
At the February term of the county board application was made by the town
of Olympia to the county for the cancellation of the deed to the public square
given in 1861 for court house purposes. It had been discovered that when Edmund
Sylvester platted the town site and dedicated that block to the public, if at
any time the town ceased to use it as a public park it reverted to Sylvester.
This invalidated the deed to the county, hence the request to have it canceled.
The county offered to cancel the deed if the town would furnish rooms in
the city hall for the use of county and district courts and county office until
the county should build a court house on the lots it had recently purchased of
J. H. Kellet, the northwest quarter of block 26, at the corner of Washington and
Sixth street. This proposition the town declined to entertain but at a special
session of the board on March 1, the town bought back the square for $1,333 and
in the deal gave a note for $1000.
In February 1870 a few mischievous boys one night piled up the seats in
the school house to surprise the teachers the next morning. The sheriff's
attention was called to the matter and a casual investigation disclosed the
principals who were taken before Justice T. M. Reed and fined $5 each.
At the town election in April F. Henry, A. A. Phillips, B. Bettman and C.
C. Hewitt were elected trustees. A tie existed between D. R. Bigelow and Levi
Shelton and at a special

p55 c1

election Mr. Shelton was chosen.
The draw in the Marshville bridge gave considerable trouble this summer
and was pronounced a failure.
The fire company found some difficulty in collecting the subscriptions to
the town hall that were made the previous year.
The people were too much interested this summer in attending to business
and the growth of the country to take much interest in politics. However the
following tickets were in the field:

REPUBLICAN.
For Councilman: - Smith.
For Representatives: D. R. Bigelow, B. R. Brewer, - Campbell.
For Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For Auditor: A. A. Phillips.
For County Commissioners: Wm. McLane, Ira Ward, Jr., Wm. James.
For Treasurer: - Abbott.
For Assessor. W. M. White.
For Probate: Judge R. Elder.
For School Superintendent: D. R. Bigelow.

DEMOCRATIC
For Councilman: 0. B. McFadden.
For Representatives: G. W. Biles, J. E. Wyche, J. T. Hicklin.
For Sheriff: B. F. Ruth.
For Auditor. T. G. Lowe.
For County Commissioners: James Biles, Benj. Harned. D. J. Chambers.
For Treasurer: B. Bettman.
For Assessor: C. E. Weed.
For Probate Judge: C. P. Judson.
For School Superintendent: J. M. Murphy.

The Republican ticket entire was elected.
In July Mrs. Burkett opened a hotel in the Gale building at the corner of
Main and Fourth streets.
In September C. Ethridge opened a sash and door factory between Second and
Third streets near the west end of Swantown bridge.
The year witnessed a good healthy growth for the town. Considerable

p55 c2

building was done and advantage was taken of the prospective railroad boom.
A fire this summer destroyed a building belonging to Geo. A. Barnes at the
corner of Main and First streets with a loss of $4000.
The prospective demand for town sites on the Sound, in view of the early
approach of the Northern Pacific, had inspired some little speculation in
outside enterprises. In April, T. I. McKenny and Geo. A. Barnes platted the
townsite of Puget City, in sections 9 and 10 of township 19, range 1 west, being
in Thurston county on the west side of Puget Sound proper, and being the James
Burrows donation claim. The enterprise does not seem to have been a success.
In February 1872, General McKenny quit claimed his interest in the site to Mr.
Barnes, and in May 1873, at the request of Mr. Barnes, the plat was vacated.
The year opened with Messrs. Rabbeson & Clark claiming a balance of $906
on the town hall contract. The town board thought it too high and secured the
services of Geo. Blankenship, B. Harned, J. R. Wood and C. Ethridge, mechanics
of the town to estimate the work of the building and the balance to be paid.
The first three agreed upon a sum near the amount claimed by the contractors.
Mr. Ethridge estimated the amount due to be $350. An effort "to split the
difference" failed. Each member of the board then voted. Henry favored
granting $640; Murphy, $590; Frost, $375 and Barnes and Percival, $350. The
contractors signified a willingness to accept the latter figure or Mr.
Ethridge's estimate.
During the year Mr. Mann was selected as principal of the school and Miss
O'Neal as assistant.
The question of a water supply was agitated this summer and an ordinance
passed granting to the Washington Water Pipe Manufacturing

p56 c1

and Water company the right to supply the inhabitants with water.
In the fall a sewerage system was demanded.
In the fall the office of town clerk was declared vacant and Wm. H.
Cushman was elected.
Mr. Brown and Miss Hattie Stevens were employed as teachers.
This fall the trustees furnished the Hook and Ladder Company with $100
worth of hooks, ladders, axes, etc.
A contract was made with the water company to supply the city with water
hydrants for $500.
As the winter nights came on a night watchman was selected.
The most violent earthquake of recent times occurred in September of this
year. All evidence goes to prove that the shocks came from the direction of
Mount Olympus in the Olympic range. On the Cowlitz prairies stock was
stampeded, chimneys were destroyed, fences were leveled and in the houses the
chairs rocked and clocks were thrown from the mantles. At Yelm there were
observed two very strong shocks, followed by several slight ones. Clocks were
stopped and many thrown down. Chickens were thrown off the roosts and chimneys
and buildings were cracked. In many places earth fissures were formed, and on
the Columbia river trail it was necessary to make repairs in several places to
prevent accidents to horses. Numerous cracks were found, some as far east as
Okanogan and Yakima. In many parts a dull rumbling noise was heard. At Olympia
houses rocked violently, throwing down chairs and destroying crockery, and a
child was thrown from its bed. The maple trees swayed to and fro like inverted
pendulums, and people who stood in the streets to avoid falling chimneys, were
thrown to the ground.
Early in the spring the town received the unwelcome report that the

p56 c2

Northern Pacific had determined to make its western terminus on the Columbia
river instead of at Olympia. Surveying parties were constantly appearing and
reappearing; would come from, no one knew where and go, no one knew whither. In
November speculation was indulged in by the sudden withdrawal of the surveying
parties, a meeting of citizens was held December 17th, to discuss the railroad
situation and to formulate a plan of action. A committee of which Surveyor-
General E. P. Ferry was chairman, was appointed to confer with Northern Pacific
officials as to the best terms on which railroad connection could be made with
Olympia. The committee saw Judge Rice and Mr. Canfield, representatives of the
railroad company, and reported that these gentlemen were not authorized to
select a terminus; that no place would be selected before June; that there was
no mystery about the company's movements; that they had no interest in
speculation and that they intended to use the government subsidy in the manner
that would promote the largest public interest to be served by the land grant.
Judge Rice intimated to the committee that they desired to connect the Columbia
river with the nearest practical point but they feared, having once connected
with the Sound, they could not claim the land grant beyond to another point on
the Sound; but they would commence on the Columbia river and work this way.
This report disclosed important and in one respect, satisfactory
information. Olympia was the Sound point nearest the Columbia river. But the
desire of the company to have the land grant to a point down the Sound and the
fear of losing it if they did not go there created an uncertainty in the minds
of Thurston county property owners.
The business men of Olympia realized

p57 c1

that they were not in good business shape to deal with the Northern Pacific.
The people were enthusiastic but lacked organization. Accordingly in December,
1870, Marshall Blinn, C. H.. Hale, A. J. Miller, James Pattison, E. Marsh, G. A.
Barnes, W. Mitchell, C. Crosby Sr., John Miller Murphy and E. P. Ferry organized
a company with $400,000 capital to construct a branch of the Northern Pacific
railroad. The name of the organization was the Olympia Branch Railroad Company
and was to exist fifty years. Its purpose was to treat officially with the
Northern Pacific with the object of bringing that transcontinental road to
Budd's Inlet. Its first act was to petition Congress for the mud flats or 1,337
acres of them, conditioned that the Deschutes channel should be open. The idea
was to obtain possession of these and offer them to the railroad company, on
condition that the terminus was made on Budd's Inlet. The petition did not
receive favorable congressional consideration.
In this decidedly uncertain condition, but with the surroundings
constantly whispering the delusions of hope, the year drew to a close.

1871.
But the railroad agitation continued through the next year and as the
weeks and months rolled by interest increased and anxiety became more poignant.
The boom was on at Kalama, where the Northern Pacific crossed the Columbia, in
all its greatness and its low murmurs could be heard at the head waters of the
Sound. The greed of real estate owners knew no bounds. At Kalama a man was
offered $10,000 and ten town lots for his ranch. He refused; wanted $50,000.
The railroad left him and went off four miles. He then sought the company
officials and offered his land for ten town lots.

p57 c2

Marshall Blinn, of the Olympia Branch Railroad Company, informed J. W. Sprague
and J. W. Goodwin, special agents of the Northern Pacific, of their desire to
secure the mud flats and present them to the railroad company. General Sprague
replied by sending blanks, etc. for making the donations.
Subscription books were opened and a thorough canvass made by the
committee of citizens. In March the Branch Railroad company addressed a
communication to the citizens recommending that the property owners on Budd's
Inlet donate half their lands to the Northern Pacific, on condition that it
would build and operate a railroad before January 1, 1875, and locate the road
before May 1, 1872. Considerable difficulty was experienced in securing this
remarkably large donation. The makers of the proposition realized that it was a
life or death struggle; that failure meant the growth of a rival at another
point on the Sound that would deprive Olympia of her metropolitan laurels.
Others soliloquized that the Northern Pacific was coming here anyway; that it
could not afford to do otherwise and that liberal donations were useless. It
was proposed to receive small cash donations from those who owned single lots in
town and with this fund purchase the Moxlie farm of two hundred and twenty acres
adjoining the town on the southeast.
During the summer the railroad contractors were at work in the Cowlitz
valley. They expected to have twenty five miles built from Kalama by October 2
and forty miles more grubbed and cleared before winter and connection made with
the Sound by the fall of 1872.
In November 1871 the road was built to Mound Prairie, sixty-five miles
from Kalama and fifteen from Olympia. So far as the terminus was

p58 c1

concerned the citizens of Olympia were in uncertainty. The railroad men said
nothing but their acts spoke. No notice was taken of Olympia's munificent offer
and it began to appear that, from their present location to reach Olympia would
be a deflection. The more sanguine however were hopeful and thought the
terminus would be on the west side near Brown's wharf. The months of November
and December passed slowly, fraught with much suspense. The nerves of
speculators were at a high tension.
The suspense was relieved, however on Christmas day, when Messrs. Goodwin
and Sprague over their signatures wrote Mr. Blinn accepting the proposition of
the Branch Railroad Company saying the Northern Pacific Company "will comply
with the first condition by causing a railroad to be located, before May 1 next,
connecting the Columbia river with a point on the navigable waters of Budd's
inlet." They also asked a right of way from Bush Prairie. The receipt of this
was a welcome Christmas offering. It at once set the people wild with joy.
Prices of real estate advanced to fabulous figures and no sellers. Saloons were
well patronized. The anxious hope of years was now about to be realized; the
Northern Pacific railway was making Olympia its Puget Sound terminus!
But albeit the year; 1871 was pregnant with railroad excitement, it was
eventful in other respects. The winter was reasonably active in the line of
building in the town and the steady march of progress went forward in the
country. The railroad graders had already reached the southeastern part of the
county and given an activity to farm lands in the valleys of the Skookumchuck
and Nisqually and on Mound and Yelm prairies.

p58 c2

A new school house was built at Yelm.
This summer the town built a fence around the public square and
improvements were made on Columbia Hall.
To add to the stimulating influences of the prevailing excitement, the
semi-periodic report of a gold discovery in the Black Hills reached the town.
At Tumwater business improvements likewise pushed forward. D. Barnhart
had a furniture factory and Leonhard & Cooper manufactured sashes and doors.
In December occurred an exciting school election that resulted in the
choice of Geo. A. Barnes, Benj. Harned and A. H. Steele for directors and Nat
Crosby, clerk.
A farmer's club was organized in July for the purpose of holding fairs and
other meetings for the improvement of agricultural methods. It started with the
usual interest and shortly after through neglect was forgotten.
During the year Wm. James, one of the county commissioners died and when
the board met in July G. W. French was appointed to fill the vacancy. The court
house was leased for three years to Mrs. Churchill and Miss Case for a girls'
seminary and was refitted to accommodate that purpose.
The newspaper fraternity was added to this summer by the transport hither
of a plant from Port Townsend and yclept the Courier.
The town trustees were: F. Henry, president; S. W. Percival, John Miller
Murphy and A. H. Steele.
Mr. Boynton, Mary O'Neal and Mary Post were chosen teachers for the year.
During the fall and winter the town hall was leased for a skating rink at
100 per month.

p59 c1

1872.
When the cherished hope of a score of years is about to pass into a stern
reality it is difficult to describe human feelings by the cold processes of
printer's ink. For twenty years the pioneers at Olympia had been agitating the
subject of a Northern Pacific Railroad. Amid discouragements and with the aid
of dreams they had held on to the project that would some day connect the
headwaters of Puget Sound with the busy marts of the Mississippi valley. Buoyed
up by their dreams they and their neighbors were now to witness a fairy like
possibility culminate in the joy of an actual existence.
Olympia was to be the terminus; was to be the New York, the New Orleans,
the Chicago the San Francisco of the Northwest. Urged on by mad speculation,
purchasers offered fabulous prices for real estate; held in check by the mad
stupidity of greed, owners demanded still more fabulous prices.
In this state of mind Olympians threw away their old calendars and
joyfully hailed the oncoming of 1872.
Street improvements had been going on slowly. Ruts made by the wheels of
loaded wagons were filled by an occasional load of gravel or, which happened
oftener, by a pine knot from a load of wood. Main street was corduroyed across
a marshy sag from Third to near Sixth, then planked to Seventh. In January the
planking was extended to Ninth. The draw in the Marshville bridge had not given
satisfaction and this winter D. J. Corker of Tumwater put in a new one.
A system of fire alarms was adopted by the fire department. A continuous
ringing of the bell located a fire in the First ward: twelve or fifteen taps
followed by two taps located it in

p59 c2

the Second ward; the same followed by three taps in the third ward.
As spring opened the building industry commenced; both business houses and
residences went up with booming rapidity. Both were demanded and rents were
enormous. Tumwater, too, felt the rumblings of the on coming boom and took part
in the general rejoicings.
At the February term of the county board plans and specifications were
submitted by W. E. Boone for a vault for the safe keeping of records; also by A.
B. Rabbeson for a building. The contract for the latter was awarded to W. H.
Clark at the May meeting for $984 and for the vault to J. T. Young for $950.
In the fall the town graded Main street to the south line of Central
Addition and by an agreement with the county the improvement was continued to
the top of the hill.
This fall the lease of Mrs. Churchill to the court house was extended to
five years, Mrs. Churchill having bought Miss Case's interest in the Female
Seminary. Five hundred dollars was appropriated for repairs.
The summer was relieved of its election excitement by a change in the date
from July to November.
During this summer a man named Ira Bradley Thomas was in Olympia buying
land on the east side of the Inlet and succeeded in securing title to several
thousand acres. While here he suddenly took sick and died.
The political campaign of 1872 was warm and exciting. The disaffection in
Republican ranks in the east which took the form of Liberal Republicanism led by
Horace Greeley, in Thurston county joined its fortunes with the Democracy and
yclept itself the Peoples Ticket. At the polls the following tickets were
presented to the voters:

p60 c1

REPUBLICAN.
For Councilman: Geo. A. Barnes.
For Representatives: J. B. Allen, 0. B. Brewer, Jas. A. Karr.
For County Commissioners: M. S. Drew, S. N. Cooper, A. Webster. For
Auditor: Fred Bohm.
For Sheriff: J. P. Eckler.
For Treasurer: C. B. Mann.
For Surveyor: F. W. Brown.
For School Superintendent: D. R. Bigelow.
For Probate Judge: A. R. Elder.

PEOPLES.
For Councilman: Wm. McLain.
For Representatives: E. Henry, B. F. Yantis, Ira Ward.
For Auditor: A. A. Phillips.
For Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For Treasurer: W. J. Grainger.
For Surveyor: D. S. B. Henry.
For School Superintendent: C. A. Huntington.
For Probate Judge: J. M. Lowe.
For Coroner: I. V. Mossman.

The entire People's ticket was elected. Selucius A. Garfielde was a
candidate for delegate to congress but was defeated by Judge 0. B. McFadden.
At this election the people voted upon the question of a state
constitution but it was emphatically defeated, the vote in Thurston county being
54 for, to 141 against.
During this summer the Burmeister building at the corner of Main and Third
streets was erected.
Prof. Ruttan opened a singing school in the M. E. Church.
Ayer's hill on the east side had been giving considerable trouble to
teamsters. Of clayey soil, the wet weather made it nearly impassable. This
fall ditches were dug on the sides and cedar puncheons laid to the top of the
hill.
As tending to increase confidence in the future importance of the county,
William Packwood discovered a vein

p60 c2

of anthracite coal about seventy miles east of Olympia.
This summer Messrs. Hoffman and Frost brought a building from Steilacoom
on a flat boat and located it on Main street.
At the municipal election W. W. Miller was chosen mayor: B. Bettman and A.
J. Burr councilman from the First ward; M. Blinn and T. F. McElroy from the
Second ward and J. S. Dobbins and D. S. B. Henry from the Third ward. A. A.
Phillips was elected clerk; R. W. Ryerson treasurer; A. R. Elder, magistrate and
-- Westbrook marshal. Mr. Burr subsequently resigned and S. D. Howe was
appointed in his place.
A movement was put on foot to fund the outstanding indebtedness and a
special committee was appointed to memorialize congress for authority to borrow
$25,000 to take up the outstanding notes of the town at a rate of interest not
to exceed 10 per cent. There is no record of this committee ever making a
report.
On Saturday, the 14th of December. at 9:40 p. m. a very strong earthquake
shock was felt over the whole Puget Sound country and as far south as
Skookumchuck, where trees swayed and created a panic among stock. No damage was
done, but the frame buildings swayed to and fro like small craft at sea. At
Olympia roofs were cracked and the maples swayed violently. People rushed from
hotels and houses in terror and general panic prevailed until the cessation of
the shocks. An amusing incident of this shock happened at a meeting of one of
the fraternities of Olympia. A well known citizen was being initiated. He was
hoodwinked and in the position required by the ritual when the shock came. The
building swayed several times and in their fright all the members left the hall.
Once out

p61 c1

however, they regained confidence and returned. The candidate occupied the same
position and the initiation was completed. After it was over he was told what
had happened and to the amusement of the lodge he remarked that he thought
rattling the building was a part of the performance.
May 1 was the date set by Messrs. Goodwin and Sprague of the Northern
Pacific at which time they would have located their line to Budd's Inlet. There
was a lull in the work and May 1 arrived and no line had been located.
Confidence in the terminus being located on Budd's Inlet began to weaken; turned
to suspicion; suspicion grew to fear and, as the days wore by, fear grew to
alarm.
In the frenzy of the situation, on June 26, Marshall Blinn wrote to
Messrs. Goodwin and Sprague and inquired where the line would be located. On
July 3 their answer returned, written at Kalama, June 29, in which they said the
"line of railroad runs to the east side of Budd's Inlet to the Billings or Wylie
donation claim, said claim being in sections 25, 26, 35 and 36 of township 19
range 2 west and a point will be selected on one of said claims for a freight
and passenger depot, where said line will terminate.
Signed,
JOHN GOODWIN.
JOHN W. SPRAGUE.
Agents for N. P. Ry. "

This restored confidence and inspired renewed enthusiasm in the
celebration of the Fourth.
As the summer wore along and the fall came on the citizens noticed that
the railroad people were building their road from Mound Prairie through Yelm and
toward Tacoma. The people at Olympia slowly began to realize that Budd's Inlet
would not furnish the Sound terminus and thus the year 1872, that was ushered in
with so

p61 c2

much rejoicing, drew to a close. The sunshine of hope had given place to the
gloom of despair.
The student of the history of Washington is interested in knowing why
the Northern Pacific railway company so recklessly broke faith with the people
of Olympia. Honorable practices in business and every principle of morality
would have dictated that the promises held out be faithfully kept. But
honorable practices and moral principles alone do not build corporations. These
organizations exists for money making purposes; "they have no bodies to be
kicked, no souls to be damned." They are not controlled by honorable practices
or moral principles except so far as those virtues enter into the laws.
Among the directors of the Northern Pacific Railway company was an
institution called the Lake Superior and Puget Sound Land Company. There was
the old gag of "a wheel within a wheel." The Northern Pacific was not
interested in town site speculation; the Lake Superior and Puget Sound Land
Company was. The last named company controlled the railroad company. Acting as
town site speculators, the directors purposed buying a large area of land at an
eligible point on Puget Sound, then as directors of the Northern Pacific locate
the terminus thereon. They were familiar with the topography of the country,
had sent a man out here to buy land on the east side. That man had fulfilled
his mission, had bought a large area; had secured the title in himself and --
died. The death of Ira Bradley Thomas withdrew from market for an indefinite
period the few thousand acres of land that vested in him. Some months, possibly
years, must necessarily elapse before the land could be probated. Time was
urgent. The Land Company felt that, if they as

p62 c1

the directors of the Northern Pacific, kept faith with Olympia, as members of
the Land Company they would not realize their expected fortunes. As a result
they selected a site a few miles from Tacoma and going into the Northern Pacific
directorate located the terminus on those waters. Had Ira Bradley Thomas lived
Olympia might have been the terminus of the Northern Pacific and the precipitous
cliffs on the western shore of Commencement Bay still afford hiding places for
bears, wild cats and cougars.

1873.
With many of the people of Olympia the disappointment over the
faithlessness of the Northern Pacific Company soon gave way to despair. But not
so with all. In spite of discouragements, blighted ambitions and withered hopes
they rallied and sought other means to maintain Olympia's commercial prestige in
the northwest.
In March 1873 a meeting of citizens was called to consider the propriety
of urging the Northern Pacific to build a branch road to Olympia. At the same
time the practicability of a wharf to deep water was agitated and the latter
question was made the issue at the town meeting in April.
Ordinary foresight would suggest to a thinking man that the former
proposition would miscarry. The Railway company had gone to Commencement Bay
for the purpose of building a rival city. Their first move must necessarily be
to draw thereto the trade that now came to Olympia. It was purblindness to
expect them to assist a town, the ruin of which was to their interest.
The town election in April was a spirited one. Wharf or no wharf was the
issue and the anti-wharf men carried the election, although by a close vote. W.
W. Miller was re-elected mayor; S. Coulter and S. D. Howe

p62 c2

councilmen from the First ward; I. C. Ellis and T. F. McElroy from the Second
ward and J. S. Dobbins and S. D. Ruddell from the Third ward.
The commercial outlook for the city was dark and gloomy and the mistakes
of past years were apparent. For twenty years Olympia had been the mistress of
Puget Sound trade. Around her was gathered the only considerable farming
population in Western Washington. During the spasms of mining excitement, here
were the headquarters. The logging camps on both sides of the Sound were
supplied by her wholesale dealers. During these years of prosperity had an
effort been made to establish manufacturing enterprises, however small, there
would have been the nucleus of an abiding city.
But in 1873 it was folly to "cry over spilled milk." Unimproved
opportunities had gone. The problem now was to, as far as possible, prevent the
total ruin of the town. With limited means men set about to do the work.
Posterity will know very little of the unselfish and devoted efforts made by
Olympians during 1873 to hold fast what business the town had. A long wharf to
deep water, by private subscription, or by a joint stock company; a railroad to
Tenino, either a narrow or a standard gauge, whether to enter town on the east
or west side; inducing a San Francisco steamship company to make Olympia the
terminus of their sound route, were all canvassed as among the possible means of
municipal salvation. But nothing took definite shape until the following
winter.
In the spring of 1873 the Carlton House was opened by G. W. Carlton. It
at once became a leading hotel of the town and continued such until 1891.
Business circles were somewhat stirred this spring by the absconding of

p63 c1

S. B. Abbott of the mercantile firm of Abbott & Horr. He went to San Francisco
with several thousand dollars of the firm's money. His disappearance aroused
suspicions among creditors and a state of affairs was disclosed that seriously
embarrassed Mr. Horr.
Lack of funds prevented the district school from opening this spring.
Miss Patterson, however opened a private school in the school house. But in the
fall the year's school opened with Mr. Kaye and Miss Patterson as teachers. The
principal of the Swantown school was Mr. Boynton with Mrs. Cortz and Nellie
Huntington assistants.
On October 19, as a Mr. Kuhn was driving a herd of cattle over the
Swantown bridge, the timbers collapsed, precipitating the herd into the mud
below, the tide fortunately being out; two were smothered.
Woman suffrage had been agitated in the territory for some time and this
fall its votaries organized a woman Suffrage association at Olympia. Mrs. A. H.
H. Stuart was president; Mrs. M. A. Barnes, vice president; Mrs. P. C. Hale,
secretary and Mrs. J. H. Munson, treasurer. The association continued its work
until 1883 when woman suffrage became a law of the Territory.
During the history of the county thus far, poverty had been unknown and
appeals for aid had scarcely reached the authorities. But solicitation of alms
had been made in a few instances and at the February term of the county board
Francis Henry was appointed superintendent of the poor.
On September 5 a special meeting of the county board was called to
consider the calling of a special election to vote bonds for a railroad from
Budd's Inlet to the Northern Pacific at Tenino, but the board decided that it
had no authority to call an election

p63 c2

for that purpose.
In November the Northern Pacific was given the right of way through school
sections for the sum of $100.
County Treasurer W. J. Grainger died during the month of December and on
the 28th a special session was called to fill the vacancy. Wm. Mix was
appointed.
It was an off year in politics. S. A. Garfielde, after his defeat as
delegate to congress had, secured the appointment of Inspector of Customs. P.
D. Moore had occupied a desk in the customs service for some years and when Mr.
Garfielde came in to take charge of the office, Col. Moore asked if his services
were longer required? "Certainly" said Mr. Garfielde, "temporarily." "Then
good morning, sir" said Mr. Moore "I cannot accept temporarily" and walked out.
The new collector was nonplussed but rallied, recalled Mr. Moore and retained
him in the service.
The railroad agitation was kept up during the year. An address was issued
to the citizens in September urging the necessity of united action in building a
railroad to Tenino. A special election was called for October 8, to vote bonds
to build such a road. The election resulted in 504 votes being cast for and 143
against, as follows:

Precincts. Bonds, Yes. Bonds, No.

Olympia 375 28
Tumwater 62 16
Black River 2 8
Tenino 55 35
Grand Mound 1 35
Chamber's Prairie 8 3
Yelm 1 18

Total 504 143

In town matters an appropriation of $450 was made for a road down the
westside and specifications adopted for a new draw in the Marshville bridge.

1874.
The new year opened with the active

p64 c1

business men of Olympia at work to establish railroad connection with the
outside world, which work was kept up assiduously during the year. But events,
in other lines, of local importance were transpiring.
The number of school children in the county on January 1 was 867 and the
amount apportioned from the territorial fund was $6.56 per child. The text
books in use in the schools were Town's Spellers, National Readers, Bullion's
Grammars, Cornell's and Monteith's Geographies.
In January occurred the Taylor Tragedy near Tenino. Dabney G. Jones had
been at work for Taylor and a dispute arose over the amount of wages due.
During the dispute Jones killed Taylor and took the body some distance from the
house and covered it between two logs and fled. He was captured, put on trial
and plead self defense, was convicted and sentenced to twelve years in the
penitentiary. While an appeal was pending he, the following year, broke jail
and escaped.
Early in 1874, the banking house of Barnes & Co. dissolved, W. N. Ayer
retiring.
As indicating the primitive means of transporting money in early days it
may be mentioned that during the early sixties Mr. Barnes had occasion to bring
a quantity of gold coin from Portland to Olympia by stage and was at his wits
end to do so with safety. He went to a printing office and procured a common
box used by foundries for shipping type. This he filled with his gold coins,
nailed up the box, marked it "Printer's Type" and labeled it "John Miller
Murphy, Standard Office, Olympia, W. T." His subsequent attention to it was
unconcerned; saw it thrown in the stage wagon; incidentally saw it tumbled out.
He next claimed it at the Standard office

p64 c2

from which it found its way to his store.
For years a block house had stood at the head of Main street near the
corner of Thirteenth. On January 25, a drunken Indian had been locked up and to
aid in securing his release, he set fire to the bedding. His alarm of fire was
not heard and the night watchman's attention was first attracted by the burning
building. But he was too late to save either the building or the prisoner; both
burned.
The women's temperance Crusade of the east had become an issue in the town
election. John B. Allen was the temperance candidate for mayor and I. C. Ellis
the license candidate. Ellis was elected. The council was composed of S. D.
Howe and M. R. Tilley from the First Ward; N. Crosby Jr. and T. F. McElroy from
the Second and D. S. B. Henry and F. A. Hoffman from the Third. In the Third
ward the vote for F. A. Hoffman and J. S. Dobbins was a tie; casting lots
resulted in the choice of Mr. Hoffman.
The erection of a city jail on the old site was ordered by the council and
Mr. Henry was appointed to let the contract and superintend the construction.
The contract was awarded to Geo. S. Deer.
This summer Sheriff Billings erected a brick residence on Franklin and
Ninth streets.
This summer the subject of an agricultural fair was brooked and discussed.
The town council ordered a special election on levying a tax of l 1/2 mills for
grounds. The election was carried by a vote of 132 to 9.
Early in the year Capt. S. W. Percival let the contract for his residence
on the west side at the end of the bridge. Benj. Harned was the contractor.
A Mr. Pressy of Tumwater was doing a fair business manufacturing
furniture.

p65 c1

An academy was instituted this year and dedicated with a theatrical
entertainment and ball.
In November a San Francisco news paper brought the information which
aroused the highest indignation at Olympia that P. D. Moore had been awarded the
contract for carrying the mails on the Sound, to start from Tacoma, for the sum
of $20,980 and that the same party submitted a bid to carry from Olympia for
$26,980, but that the latter had been rejected. Moore was authorized to begin
service at once and the old contractor refused to receive the mail and the North
Pacific mail steamer left without it. The people were indignant and this thrust
at Olympia was attributed to the Northern Pacific railway. Meetings were held
to denounce the arrangement and telegrams from Washington brought the
information that the old contractor was to carry the mail from Olympia until the
first of January, 1875. On that day the Sound mail route was from Tacoma to
Victoria and Olympia was a side post office. In spite of efforts to change the
people were unsuccessful until 1876 when the route was extended to the capital.
The railroad agitation served to detract from the political excitement,
but nevertheless two full tickets were in the field. The Republicans had
recovered from the tidal wave that had engulfed them two years before. Below
are the nominations:

REPUBLICAN.
For Councilman: Marshal Blinn.
For Representatives: E. Evans, James Wood, R. A. Brewer.
For Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For Auditor: A. A. Phillips.
For Treasurer: J. H. Munson.
For Probate Judge: A. R. Eder.
For County Commissioners: F. B. Kendall, Wm. Ogle, G. H. Foster.
For Coroner: I. V. Mossman.

p65 c2

For School Superintendent: D. R. Bigelow.
For Surveyor: L. G. Abbott.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Councilman: W. B. Gasnell.
For Representatives: Frank Ruth, P. B. Van Trump, Cyril Ward.
For Sheriff: G. W. Biles.
For Auditor: J. L. Cook.
For Treasurer: Nat Crosby, Jr.
For Probate Judge: J. M. Lowe.
For County Commissioners: Wm. Mitchell, A. S. Yantis, A. J. Chambers.
For Coroner: M. Shields.
For School Superintendent: J. M. Murphy.
For Surveyor: D. S. B. Henry.

The entire Republican ticket was elected except Brewer for representative
who was defeated by B. F. Ruth, and Kendall and Foster, county commissioners, in
whose stead were elected Mitchell and Chambers. For a constitutional convention
111 votes were cast in the county to 222 against.
The Grange movement that started in the east the previous year reached
Thurston County early this year and a Grange was soon organized at Olympia.
But the subject of historical importance this year was the railroad
question. The preceding year closed with the citizen's committee hard at work
to preserve the business prestige of the town, but in spite of them it was fast
waning. Houses were tenantless and rents had dropped from twenty to fifty per
cent. The products of the Chehalis, Skookumchuck and other valleys were taken
away from Olympia and other discouragements paled in the near future. The
Northern Pacific was discriminating against the county in the matter of rates.
Amid the necessities of the situation a meeting of the business men was held in
January 1874 in the office of general Hazzard Stevens.

p66 c1

There were present: Marshal Blinn, T. F. McElroy, S. W. Percival, N. Ostrander,
A. A. Phillips, S. D. Howe, F. A. Hoffman, F. Henry, Ira Ward, R. W. Ryerson, G.
W. Biles and Hazzard Stevens. The exigencies of the occasion were canvassed and
thoroughly considered. It was an important event in the history of the county.
The outcome was the Olympia Railroad Union. Marshall Blinn was elected
president but declined. The following officers were then chosen: President,
Hazzard Stevens; Vice President, S. D. Howe; Secretary, F. A. Hoffman;
Treasurer, R. W. Ryerson; board of appraisers, T. F. McElroy, Ira Ward, and S.
W. Percival. A spirited address was issued to the people and books opened for
subscriptions to stock. Stock was readily taken and the people heartily took
hold of the project to build a road from Olympia to Tenino. A survey of the
road was made and the estimated cost was as follows:-

Narrow Standard
Guage Guage

Cost per mile, $10,937.69 $16,235.29
To deep water, east side, 161,766.01 239,163.58
" " west side, 148,033.11 228,876.14
To west end M'shvil' br'dg, 132,991.35 207,066.40

The whilom rivalry between the east and west sides was kept down and a
harmonious effort made to secure the road. The Union adopted the west shore
line with the depot near the Marshville bridge and determined upon a narrow
guage. The people were enthusiastic. It was the first ray of light to pierce
the gloom that had hung like a pall since the Northern Pacific gave the town the
go by. The roads had been surveyed; the grade stakes set and everything in
readiness to begin work. The people had resolved on doing the work themselves.
The ladies were to prepare the meals. April 7 was the day set for the work to
begin. At an early hour that day the town put on its holiday

p66 c2

attire. Flags floated, bells rang and cannon boomed. The people gathered on
the public square clothed in the habiliments of laborers. Bankers, merchants,
lawyers, doctors, officials, clerks, came with their working tools; their picks,
axes, shovels, plows, scrapers, etc., etc. Headed by the Olympia Light Guard
Band the procession formed and proceeded toward Tumwater. At the bridge they
were joined by a crowd from the city at the falls. Boats were in waiting to
convey the laborers to Warren's Point where gangs of men were assigned to work
by the engineer. There were no drones. Trees fell, logs were sawed and stumps
uprooted; graders followed. At noon the ladies spread a lunch in the large cook
house that had been erected for the occasion. There were not tables enough and
cloths were spread on the ground. C. Eldridge donated the dessert- a keg of
beer. After lunch short speeches were made and subscriptions to stock taken and
Thursday of each week set apart as field day, on which the people would lay
aside private matters and assemble to work the grade. Farmers were urged to
bring butter, vegetables, etc. to assist in the work. Three hundred men and
seventy five ladies were at work on the first day and fully one mile was
cleared.
The novelty of the day's doings and the inspiration of the occasion
tempted Capt. Percival to taste Eldridge's beer. The captain had hitherto been
a consistent and respected member of the Good Templars and at the next meeting
of the lodge he was given a serious reprimand by those who failed to appreciate
the practical phases of railroad building.
At the May session of the county commissioners the Railroad Union was
given the right to cross all highways.
It had been discovered that the vote

p67 c1

of the county the previous fall to issue bonds was void owing to a lack of
authority in the county to issue bonds. In early summer Judge McFadden,
delegate in Congress, secured the passage of a bill granting the county this
right. A special session of the county board was held July 10 for the purpose
of calling a special election to vote county bonds to aid in building the
Olympia and Tenino railroad. The Railroad Union entered into a contract to
operate the road to Tenino for $75,000 in bonds, payable in twenty five years
and redeemable after ten years; to be issued in denominations of $1000, $500 and
$100 -$25,000 in each denomination. The special election was called for August
8th. In July, Marshal Blinn, F. A. Hoffman, H. L. Chapman, 0. Shead, S. N.
Cooper, T. I. McKenny, C. H. Hale, G. W. Biles, J. M. Murphy, T. F. McElroy, G.
A. Barnes, S. D. Howe, S. W. Percival, Hazzard Stevens, A. A. Phillips, Ira Ward
and R. W. Ryerson were elected trustees of the Railroad Union.
The bond election on August 8th passed quietly and a good vote was polled.
The bonds were ordered, 529 votes being cast for to 214 against.
The bonds were issued and the Railroad Union gave the county a bond for
$200,000 secured by a first mortgage on the road, conditioned that the road
would be completed within one year from August 1, 1875.
The Union had expected to sell its bonds in Portland but in this it was
not successful. Gen. Stevens then sought a market for them in San Francisco but
with a like result. These failures were attributed to Northern Pacific
influences and anathemas long and deep were breathed and uttered against that
corporation. The Northern Pacific was also discriminating against the county in
the matter of rates. In May a petition

p67 c2

was presented to the county commissioners asking that a committee of citizens be
appointed to act with a similar committee appointed by the town board to report
on a course to be pursued relative to such discrimination. The petition was
received favorably and J. P. Judson, Wm. McLane and J. S. Dobbins appointed as
such committee. This committee never reported.

1875.
Since occupying the Puget Sound Institute property for court house
purposes a feeling had grown up that the site was too far removed from the
business center of the town. Out in the woods, streets ungraded, rude side
walks it was too far out to be easy of access. The county offered to exchange
the southwest quarter of block 63 at the corner of Union and Washington for the
southeast corner of block 25 at the corner of Sixth and Franklin, then owned by
the town and used for school purposes, if the town would pay a difference of
$600.
The school house in block 25 was considered insufficient to accommodate
the growing condition of the schools and in May the town proposed to either rent
or purchase the county property. The county then offered to exchange sites for
$300 or proposed to lease the court house for school purposes if the town would
keep the building insured and pay the rent of the district court room. The town
accepted the former proposition.
Early in the year the county treasurer demanded of the town board the
immediate payment of the two $500 notes held by the county that were given by
the town in 1870 in lieu of the public square that was donated to the county for
court house purposes. During the few years preceding, the town had been
expending money in building and repairing bridges, a portion of which should be
borne by the

p68 c1

county. At this time the county held the obligations of the town to the amount
of $1633 -$1333 for the public square and $300 difference on sites. In May, N.
Crosby, T. F. McElroy, Robert Mack and S. Williams for the town proposed to give
the county $900 in notes bearing ten per cent interest in exchange for the
town's obligations which the county held. It was accepted. At the same session
the county appropriated $500 to plank Main street.
Efforts to float the railroad bonds had so far ended in failure, and in
June, 1875, the old subject of a wharf to deep water was brought to the front.
Soundings were made to ascertain the best location. J. G. Parker addressed a
communication to Goodall, Nelson & Perkins of San Francisco, owners of a line of
steam ships to the Sound, asking if they would send their Sound steamers to
Olympia if the town would provide them with a deep water wharf. Their reply was
in the affirmative. The site of the wharf was then the bone of contention. The
Snyder place on the west side was selected as the most eligible location and Mr.
Snyder offered to donate one hundred feet of water front. The West Olympia
Homestead Association was formed by B. F. Brown and an effort made to secure the
location of the wharf on the Brown claim. The summer wore along and nothing was
being accomplished. The town was becoming the laughing stock of its down Sound
neighbors; was joshed for carrying out gigantic enterprises on paper.
On September 23 a special election was held to vote on a levy of a special
tax of 2 1/2 mills for a wharf. The proposition was carried by a vote of 132 to
5. The location of the wharf was the question that then came to the front. The
west side scheme was the cheapest but the general desire was to

p68 c2

have it at the foot of Main street. But the west side was selected, it being
located on Brown's claim. On October 9 a special levy of 8 mills was made for
the wharf and to make a road to it. Mr. French at once commenced its
construction and completed it in January, 1876. According to their agreement
Goodall, Nelson & Perkins ran their steamships to Olympia. Brown's wharf was a
great benefit to the town and continued in use until 1888 when the long wharf
was built from the foot of Main street.
In October of this year the Standard office put in steam power.
During the year the county and the whole territory had been thrown into
great grief by the death of Judge McFadden. As one of the early pioneers and
always at the front in matters pertaining to the interests of the county he
became endeared to the mass of the people.
The town officers this year were: I. C. Ellis Mayor; Wm. Diggins and S.
Witham councilmen from the First Ward; N. Crosby and T. F. McElroy from the
Second ward and H. L. Chapman and R. Mack from Third ward. In October Mayor
Ellis resigned and T. F. McElroy was appointed mayor and J. H. Houghton elected
to fill Mr. McElroy's place on the board.
J. D. Bolander and Joseph Martin were awarded the contract to grade a road
from Marshville bridge to the wharf, for $45. The county appropriated $500 to
improve the road to Tumwater.

1876.
Early in 1876 the Pacific Mail Company's steamers determined to make
Olympia their Sound terminus and ran two steamers to San Francisco, the Panama
and Dakota.
The Standard and Courier united to produce a daily paper called the
Olympian. In August the Standard

p69 c1

retired and Mr. C. P. Bagley of the Courier continued the publication.
Attention was turned toward Tumwater as a manufacturing site and it was
then termed the future Lowell of the Pacific.
W. 0. Bush of Bush prairie and son of the pioneer George Bush, this year
fixed up an exhibition of agricultural products for the Centennial Exposition at
Philadelphia. The collection was an excellent one for a county in the far
northwest and received the distinction it merited by being awarded first premium
on wheat.
The railroad situation dragged its slow length along through the year.
The bonds had not been sold and Otis Freeman of the Pacific Mail Company sought
to dispose of them at San Francisco but failed.
In February, M. Blinn, J. B. Allen and S. W. Percival of the Railroad
Union asked the county board for an extension of the time in which they had
obligated the company to have the road completed. The board of trustees of the
town united to urge the extension of time. The county board ordered the
extension on condition that the company, before the May term, commence the road
with a bona fide view to its early completion. At the May term the time for the
completion of the road was extended to August 1,1877.
In April a Chinese school was opened in the Chinese quarters on Columbia
street, Rev. Dong Gong being the teacher.
On April 29 the community was called to mourn the death of Edward
Giddings, one of the pioneers who had been instrumental in furthering the
commercial interests of the village
Later in the summer, July 14, occurred the sudden death of Capt. E. A.
Starr of the steamer Annie Stewart.
This year so pregnant with political

p69 c2

interests in the nation had its election concomitants in Thurston county. A
full county ticket was to be elected, besides a delegate to congress and members
of the territorial legislature. The following nominations were made:

REPUBLICAN.
For Joint Councilman: T. M. Reed.
For Representatives: J. C. Horr, S. G. Ward, E. B. Chipman.
For Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For Auditor: A. A. Phillips.
For Treasurer: J. H. Munson.
For Commissioners: J. M. Swan, J. S. French.
For Probate Judge: A. R. Elder.
For School Superintendent: John R. Thompson.
For Surveyor: F. Brown.
For Coroner: I. V. Mossman.
For Wreckmaster: John Chapman.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Joint Councilman: N. Ostrander.
For Representatives: B. F. Ruth, J. P. Judson, E. B. Couch.
For Sheriff: J. B. Rowe.
For Auditor: P. Turpin.
For Treasurer: B. F. Yantis.
For Commissioners: W. H. Mitchell, A. J. Chambers, Wm. McLane.
For Probate Judge: Edwin Marsh.
For School Superintendent. D. N. Utter.
For Surveyor: H. Hicklin.
For Coroner: W. J. Yaeger.
For Wreckmaster: Chas. Grainger.

The entire Republican ticket was elected also A. J. Chambers, one of the
Democratic candidates for county commissioner.
In November was organized the Washington Literary society, which elicited
considerable interest among the young people of the village.
At the city election April 3, J. C. Horr was elected Mayor; S. Coulter and
J. B.. Pray councilmen from the First ward; J. H. Houghton and J. M. Swan from
the Second ward and J. S. Dobbins

p70 c1

and D. S. B. Henry from the Third ward; A. A. Phillips, clerk; C. B. Mann,
treasurer, and J. P. Willis, marshal. During the year Mr. Dobbins resigned and
James Pattison was appointed as his successor; also T. M. Reed was elected vice
Mr. Houghton resigned.
This year an attempt was made to settle the matters between the city and
school district growing out of the exchange of sites with the county the
previous year and made more pertinent by the creation of the school district as
a distinct organization. Accordingly, on June 10, Messrs. Henry, Swan and
Coulter were appointed by the council a committee to make a transfer of the
school property to the school district and on September 9 reported the matter
back with the statement that it, the committee, had been unable to make
arrangements with the school district. It was voted, however that the city
charge the district rent at the rate of $100 per annum. The city took the
position that the $300 paid the county on exchange of sites, should be borne by
the school district. The school directors did not dispute the claim but failed
to reimburse the city, doubtless through lack of funds.
On November 25 the council ordered a new note given Thomas Prather for a
loan made in 1867.
The year 1876 passed into history with the people in anxious suspense over
railroad communication and commercial prosperity. The county board had limited
the time for the completion of the road to August, 1877, but the absence of a
well directed effort to begin the work made it evident that at no time during
the coming year would the snort of the iron horse be heard.

1877.
Thus the year 1877 opened amidst doubt and uncertainty respecting the
railroad to Tenino. But there had

p70 c2

been so much of this state of feeling since the project was first broached in
1872 that the people were not alarmed. But the project was not abandoned.
Amid discouragements and in spite of opposition a few faithful friends of
Olympia clung to the hope that their anticipations would ultimately be realized
and their efforts crowned with success.
Early in the year Amos Bowman of San Francisco proposed to assume the
undertaking of the Olympia Railroad Union if an extension of time for its
completion could be had. The matter was brought to the attention of the county
commissioners at their May term and the time for the completion of the road
extended to August 1, 1878, on condition that the actual work of construction
begin before October, 1877.
Numerous causes might be assigned for the failure to build the road.
There was the opposition of the Northern Pacific Company that used its influence
to embarrass the local company in selling its bonds, but it gradually dawned
upon the minds of the citizens that, though the projectors of the enterprise
were earnest in their efforts to build the road, the movement was not in the
hands of practical railroad men. The members of the Union themselves began to
suspect there might be something to this proposition and were ready to turn the
work over to another whenever it appeared that, by so doing, work of
construction would go forward. To this end the proposition of Mr. Bowman was
accepted by the Railroad Union.
About this time Gov. E. P. Ferry had succeeded Captain Percival on the
board of trustees and to the governor was assigned the duty of drawing up the
contract with Mr. Bowman.
The contract, prepared and approved by the Union, was not satisfactory to
Mr. Bowman and the deal was declared

p71 c1

off. Thus again was the village under the cloud of withered hopes and blighted
expectations. But a few determined men were not content to there remain. On
June 2, a meeting was held in Columbia Hall to discuss the situation. The
matter was in the hands of the Olympia Railroad Union, but that company evinced
a willingness to stand aside and permit another to step into his shoes, if he
would worthily wear them. To this end the Thurston County Railroad Construction
Company was organized.
The capital stock was placed at $250,000, divided into 250,000 shares.
The stock was taken and the following gentlemen chosen directors; J. P. Judson,
president; R. H. Milroy, Vice President; E. N. Ouimette, treasurer; L. P. Venen,
secretary; J. T. Brown, James Pattison, Bruce Dodge, Geo. A. Foster, A. J. Burr,
J. M. Murphy, Wm. H. Mitchell, C. C. Hewitt, Ira Ward, B. F. Yantis, L. Bettman
and G. W. French. The Railroad Union sent a proposition signed by M. Blinn and
T. I. McKinley, promising to convey to the new company all lands and lots held
by and promised to the Union on the completion of the road. This proposition
was rejected by the Construction company and a proposition made to complete the
road on the transfer to the new company of all lands, lots, etc. held by the
Union.
This proposition was accepted by the Union; subscriptions to stock were
taken and local railroad circles began to show more a spirit of business. The
question of guage was agitated but was largely determined by the item of cost.
It was roughly estimated that a narrow guage track would cost about one half
that of a standard guage. The possibility of connecting a standard guage track
with that of the Northern Pacific at Tenino also entered into the
considerations. The narrow guage was

p71 c2

adopted. The field day idea of 1874 was again put into practice and work began
between Warren's Point and Tumwater. Confidence again possessed the people and
the delusions of Hope presented pictures of commercial importance to the city
resulting from a narrow guage connection with Tenino.
Building in the city was only fairly prosperous during this year, the
people being loath to embark in business ventures.
Messrs. Allen & Titus fitted up the blacksmith shop of J. S. Dobbins at
the corner of Third and Washington streets as a machine shop.
In March of this year the Champions of the Bed Cross, a fraternal
organization was incorporated with Prof. W. H. Roberts as Commander.
On August 8th a fire broke out in the Westbrook stables on Third street
and ere it could be controlled had destroyed $20,000 worth of property.
Messrs. Billings & Co. engaged in making pottery at the corner of Main and
Ninth streets.

1878.
The year 1878 witnessed the completion of the Olympia & Tenino railroad.
In April E. M. Ouimette visited San Francisco and bought the iron and a
locomotive. In May a dispute arose over the right of way from Warren's point to
the Marshville bridge and as a result the route was changed and built on piling
as was first contemplated. On May 11 a concert was given in Columbia Hall for
the benefit of the railroad. The receipts were $70. During the summer the
contract to build the cars was let to Ward and Mitchel of Tumwater.
During July the road was completed and August 1 was designated as the day
for giving a free excursion from the city to Tenino. It was a gala day. The
fond hopes of Years were now culminated in the joys of a reality. The

p72 c1

capital of the territory, the pioneer settlement north of the Columbia had a
narrow guage railroad connection with a bluff fourteen miles away, along side of
which lay the track of the Northern pacific. It was a great day. Like nearly
every August morning, the weather was propitious, clear and bright. At 8
o'clock the first passenger train pulled out with six cars and three hundred
fifty three excursionists. An equal number went at 2 o'clock.
The county commissioners appointed as inspectors to examine the road, in
compliance with the agreement at the time the bonds were issued, Messrs. A. D.
Glover, A. J. Treadway and Wm. McMicken. In August they reported the completion
of the road as satisfactory.
The following rates of fare were adopted: Olympia to Tumwater 12 1/2
cent; to Bush Prairie, 50 cents; Spurlock Station 75 cents; Tenino, $1.00. The
county bonds were issued to Pacific Rolling Mills Company of San Francisco to
whom they had been assigned.
No sooner was the road completed than there began the agitation of its
extension to Chehalis in order to divert from Tacoma to Olympia the trade of
that valley.
The completion of the railroad inspired confidence. Houses were occupied
and tenements generally in demand.
A street railway to Tumwater was discussed.
W. N. Horton increased the water service this summer by constructing a
reservoir on the property of James Pattison on the eastside and laid a four-inch
pipe to connect with the Tumwater main at Third street. The remains of this
reservoir still exist near the corner of Third and Tullis streets on Pattison's
Addition.
In August the old district school

p72 c2

house on Franklin street was remodeled to accommodate the district court, this
lower story being used for the clerk's office and jury rooms and the second
story for a court room.
Local politics for 1878 had its usual excitements, ambitious, successes
and disappointments. The following tickets were in the field:

REPUBLICAN.
For Joint Councilman: Jas. Tullis.
For Representatives: M. R. Tilley, F. M. Rhodes.
For Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For Auditor: A. A. Phillips.
For County Commissioners: J. M. Swan, S. L. Ruddell, J. Ticknor.
For Treasurer: J. H. Munson.
For Probate Judge: A. R. Elder.
For School Superintendent: J. R. Thompson.
For Coroner: Robert Mack.
For Wreckmaster: A. J. Littlejohn.
For Surveyor: -----Page.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Joint Councilman: F. Henry.
For Representatives: E. T. Young, E. B. Conch.
For Sheriff: D. T. Drewry.
For Auditor: F. G. Lowe.
For County Commissioners: Robert Frost, Jas. Longmire. S. Davenport.
For Treasurer: J. Chilberg.
For Probate Judge: F. Henry.
For School Superintendent: H. Hicklin.
For Coroner: Geo. Blankenship.
For Wreckmaster: J. L. Cook.
For Surveyor: D. S. B. Henry.

Seven hundred ninety four votes were cast in the county. The Republican
ticket was elected with the exception of S. L. Ruddell and J. Ticknor,
commissioners, the Democratic candidates Jas. Longmire and S. Davenport being
chosen. Francis Henry also defeated A. R. Elder for probate judge. A state
constitution was voted on, receiving 459 votes to 118 against. Local option
received a vote of 220 to 148.

p73 c1

During the year the claim of the county against the city of Olympia was a
subject of controversy between the board of county commissioners and the city
council. The county held the $900 note of the town, given in 1875. In February
1878 a special meeting of the town board was called and a committee appointed to
confer with the county commissioners in relation to the note and the town asked
that its validity be submitted to the district judge. Definite action was not
taken.
There also re-arose the point of difference between the school district
and the city. In the spring of 1877, a new town board being elected, a
committee waited upon the school board to effect a settlement of their
differences the town insisting upon the school district paying the $300 due on
exchange of sites. The city records do not show that this committee made a
report. In August 1878 John B. Allen, Geo. A. Barnes and Benj. Harned, board of
school directors, proposed to pay the town $354.17 for claims against the
district if the town would execute to the district a conveyance of lots seven
and eight in block sixty three. The proposition was accepted.
In the spring of 1878 the following city officers were elected: Mayor, E.
N. Ouimette; Councilmen: First Ward, E. T. Young, W. H. Clark; Second Ward, A.
0. Damon, Alex. Farquar; Third Ward, C. H. Hale, A. Hartsock; Clerk, A. A.
Phillips; Marshal, R. Mack. Treasurer, W. J. C. Neate.
At the May term of the county board the town asked for an appropriation
for repairing the Marshville bridge. The county ordered canceled the
accumulated interest on the $900 note provided the town would make no charge for
grand jury rooms for the district court.
In August was organized the Olympia Oyster Company to deal in oysters

p73 c2

and to establish agencies at down Sound points. A. B. Rabbeson was president;
R. P. Shoecraft, secretary and T. C. Van Epps, treasurer.
During the summer W. N. Horton was granted the right of way through the
streets and, by the county, along the road from Tumwater to lay pipes for
supplying the town with water.
Amid the stimulus of renewed hope the year 1878 closed.

1879.
The appearance of the railroad, the existence of the railroad bonds and
the growth of the county had given a new life to matters in private business
relations and in public affairs.
In February 1879 the newly elected county commissioners held their first
term. Mr. Swan was elected chairman of the board. The question of the railroad
bonds being subject to taxation was brought before the board but determined in
favor of the right of the county to tax them.
At the May term was created a special fund of two per cent to pay interest
on the railroad bonds.
This spring the county board served notice on the town trustees that the
$900 must be paid immediately. With perfect complacency and decorum the mayor
referred the communication to a committee consisting of C. H. Hale, E. T. Young
and J. S. Dobbins, who were authorized to wait upon the commissioners and make
arrangements for immediate settlement. At the August term of the commissioners
Messrs. Hale and Young visited them and urged upon their attention the
invalidity of the note and again, on behalf of the town, urged that it be
submitted to the district judge.
The record does not show that the commissioners very greatly desired to
submit the note to judicial scrutiny.
The town offered to pay the county one half of the $900 if the county
would apply the other half to repairing

p74 c1

the Marshville bridge. At the November session of the board the proposition was
accepted. In November the contract for keeping the poor of the county was
awarded to Mary Mann of Tumwater at $5 per week per head. At the same time J.
C. Horr was awarded the contract for burying the county poor at $3.50 per
corpse.
During the latter part of the year a controversy arose between the
Northern Pacific railroad company and the county officials upon the question of
the taxation of railroad property. The railroad company took the position that
its property was exempt from taxation. At the November session of the board the
railroad company offered to compromise the matter by paying three per cent on
its gross earnings, aggregating $1,460.75. This was accepted by the
commissioners on condition that the company pay on its rolling stock before
December 1, and that this compromise be considered no precedent. In February
the board of school directors of the city district reported to the city council
that it was unable to collect its special tax and therefore could not pay its
indebtedness of $354.17.
At the municipal election in April the following officers were elected:
Mayor, E. N. Ouimette; trustees: First ward, E. T. Young, M. R. Tilley; Second
ward, A. Farquhar, Geo. Forbes; Third ward, J. S. Dobbins, C. H. Hale; Marshall,
Robert Mack; Clerk A. A. Phillips; Treasurer, W. C. S. Neate.
Early in the year 1879 the business and social circles of Olympia were
thrown into a commotion by the arrest of S. W. Hall who had been in business
here for several years. The arrest was for a crime committed in Illinois
several years prior by George H. Halliday which was Hall's true name. Hall
affected great surprise and assured his friends that he would

p74 c2

soon return and make everything clear. He never returned.
On May 20 Judge Edwin Marsh one of the pioneers whose claim adjoined
Percival's on the west side, since platted as Woodruff's addition, started for
Arcadia in a row boat. During the day the boat was found near Dofflemeyer's
Point containing Judge Marsh's coat and lunch basket. The body was never found.
Early this summer a subsidy was raised to improve the Chehalis wagon road.
During the summer of 1879 the question of a water supply was agitated both
for fire purposes and household use. The system of W. N. Horton, which had been
in operation was generally thought to be insufficient.
During the summer the Union Academy was formed and opened on the Eastside.
In the fall there was a general improvement in the logging business- an
industry that had somewhat lagged for a few years.

1880.
The year 1880 was characterized by few items of great historical interest.
The settlement of the railroad taxes with the Northern Pacific was
followed by another dispute of like character with the Tenino road. The company
returned no assessment to the assessor for the year 1879. The assessor fixed
the valuation at $71,000.
The railroad officials, in February, 1880, asked a reduction but the
commissioners refused to make it on the ground that the application came too
late although they acknowledged that it was too high. J. P. Judson, attorney
for the company, found the assessment roll defective in not being authenticated
and signed by the assessor as required by law. Mr. Judson announced that he
disliked to take the question into the courts, for he feared

p75 c1

the entire assessment would be declared invalid. A special session of the board
was called and as a compromise the railroad company offered to pay three and one
half per cent on its gross earnings in lieu of taxes. The compromise
proposition was rejected; the rails and property sold and bought in by the
county through Francis Henry, appointed for the purpose. The railroad company
brought suit to recover possession. At the trial, when the prosecuting
attorney, Mr. Bloomfield, offered the assessment roll in evidence Mr. Judson
objected on the ground that it was an invalid roll. The objection was sustained
and the railroad company recovered the property.
In December a petition was presented to the commissioners that the county
treasurer be directed to refuse to pay interest on the railroad bonds, but it
was denied.
Early in the year the committee of the town council appointed to confer
with the school board over the matter of district indebtedness reported that
the school board would take no action toward paying the $354. The clerk was
directed to make out a bill against the district for house rent at the rate of
$100 per month since the town purchased the property.
The clerk was instructed to draw a warrant in favor of the county
treasurer for $450 and demand the $900 note.
At the annual election in Olympia this spring, Geo. A. Barnes was elected
mayor; A. B. Woodard and A. H. Chambers trustees from the First ward; Geo.
Forbes and Joseph Lammon from the Second and Robert Frost and Thomas Tallentire
from the Third; Robert Mack, Marshal; J. V. Yantis, clerk, and W. C. S. Neate,
treasurer. The new council inaugurated street improvements, which were
considered quite elaborate for

p75 c2

those days, to wit: $300 were appropriated for Ayer's Hill, $100 for Main street
and $100 for Percival's Hill.
In May of this year Gov. Ferry was succeeded by Wm. A. Newell of New
Jersey, a man of extensive public experience. As early as 1846 he was a member
of congress from his state and for several terms governor. With Gov. Newell
came a colony that settled in Waddell Creek and Sherman valleys in this county,
west of Black lake. Although the company located on some of the most fertile
lands of the county, their inaccessibility and the cost of clearing slowly
worked discouragement to the settlers who, one by one, abandoned their claims
and engaged in other pursuits.
To take the federal census this summer there were appointed as enumerators
for the county: R. P. Shoecraft, P. P. Carroll and 0. M. Fuller. The population
of the county was 3,270; of Olympia 1532 and of Tumwater 171. The population of
Tacoma at the same time was 1098 and of Seattle 3533.
During the summer Messrs. S. C. Woodruff and T. C. Van Epps who were in
the mercantile business fitted out another expedition to inspect the Black Hills
in the western part of the county but the expedition served only as a midsummer
picnic for its participants.
At the annual election of officers of the Thurston county Railroad
Company, T. M. Reed was chosen president; L. Bettman, vice president; J. P.
Judson, secretary; W. H. Mitchell, a superintendent; T. I. McKenny, Geo. A.
Barnes and T. M. Reed, executive committee.
The Catholic Sisters of Charity this summer commenced the preliminary work
toward starting a school at Olympia which became Providence Academy.
In September of this year the city

p76 c1

was honored with a visit from President Hayes and Messrs. Chambers, Tallentire
and Forbes were appointed a committee of the town board to provide a suitable
reception.
As the biennial election drew near the following tickets were placed in
the field:

DEMOCRATIC.
For Representative: Wm. McLane.
For Sheriff: L. Kratz.
For Auditor: R. Frost.
For Treasurer: A. H. Chambers.
For Probate Judge: F. Henry.
For Commissioners: R. Waddell, T. Rutledge.
For School Superintendent: J. L. Henderson.
For Surveyor: D. S. B. Henry.
For Coroner: Geo. Blankenship.
For Wreckmaster: --- Budlong.

REPUBLICAN.
For Representative: A. Van Eaton.
For Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For Auditor: A. A. Phillips.
For Treasurer: J. H. Munson.
For Probate Judge; J. G. Sparks.
For Commissioners: S. A. McKenzie, Joseph Gibson.
For School Superintendent: J. R. Thompson.
For Surveyor: F. W. Brown.
For Coroner: N. Pattison.
For Wreckmaster, A. J. Littlejohn.

The Republican ticket was elected with the exception of Messrs. Van Eaton
and Sparks.
During 1880 there was a general improvement in all kinds of business. It
is worth noting that at this time there were seven religious societies in
Olympia and each owned the real estate it occupied. The same is true of the
fraternities. Five of the six dry goods merchants owned their buildings. So
did three of five hotel keepers and the same proportion of renters might be
found in other lines of business. The city was on no boom but a state of
contentment and stability pervaded

p76 c2

the community. Ranchers in the county owned their holdings.
During the year there had been introduced in the town small change- the
dime and half dime. Hitherto the smallest had been the quarter or two bits. A
person buying fifteen cents worth of goods paid a quarter. The loss was
invariably borne by the purchasing class. At first the small pieces were
received with contempt but soon worked their way into every day transactions.

1881.
The discovery of samples of imaginary iron ore had turned the attention of
the citizens to the manufacturing industry and in May, 1881, the Olympia Iron
Company was formed with the following directors: Gov. Wm. A. Newell, president;
S. W. Percival, vice president; P. P. Carroll, secretary; A. Farquhar,
treasurer; A. H. Chambers and J. T. Brown.
For some years the Washington Industrial Association had been in a state
of "innocuous desuetude" but an attempt was made this year to hold an annual
fair on its grounds south of the city. Excellent provision was made for a
superior exposition but in spite of earnest work the fair was generally
pronounced a failure. This was owing to the distance of the grounds from the
town- too far to walk and too short to pay four bits for a ride. At the annual
meeting, Geo. A. Barnes was elected president of the Association for the ensuing
year; C. H. Hale, vice president; T. C. Van Epps, treasurer and L. P. Venen,
secretary.
In August 1881 at the annual meeting of the stockholders of the railroad
company, J. W. Sprague, of Tacoma was elected president, Robert Wingate, vice
president, and F. R. Brown secretary and treasurer. The name of the company was
changed to Olympia & Chehalis Valley Railroad and a

p77 c1

meeting called to consider a proposition to increase the capital stock to
$500,000.
The death of President Garfield in September caused great grief in this
far off corner of the Republic. Gov. Newell issued the usual proclamation and
Mayor Young announced a memorial service. At a citizens meeting Gov. Newell
presided and T. C. Van Epps acted as secretary. Resolutions of condolence were
adopted and telegraphed President Arthur.
This year a Blue Ribbon League was formed.
Early in the year E. T. Young addressed the board of trustees upon the
subject of a canal from Black Lake. The communication was referred to a
committee which subsequently reported that a contract to survey the canal from
Black Lake to the head waters of Budd's Inlet had been let to 0. B. Iverson and
William Jameson for $150.
At the annual municipal election E. T. Young was elected mayor; A. H.
Chambers and A. B. Woodard trustees from the First Ward; N. Ostrander and George
Forbes from the second Ward; Robert Frost and Thos. Tallentire from the Third
Ward; Robert Mack Marshal; J. V. Yantis, clerk; C. B. Mann, treasurer.
The street committee of the town was authorized to construct a new bridge
to the west side and the contract for the bridge was awarded to A. J.
Littlejohn. This summer a further improvement was made to Ayer's Hill.

1882
During the session of the legislature of 1882 Olympia was incorporated as
a city and at the municipal election the following officers were elected: Mayor,
N. Ostrander; councilmen, First ward, A. H. Chambers for two years, H. Sabin for
one year; Second ward, Richard Osseno for two years,

p77 c2

R. G. O'Brien for one year; Third ward, W. J. Yaeger for two years and J. S.
Dobbins for one year. Clerk, J. V. Yantis; Marshal, J. R. Rose; Treasurer, C.
B. Mann.
On May 18 fire broke out in the Vienna restaurant on Main street on the
south half of the block where Chilberg's building now stands. The flames spread
in both directions north and south. By the efforts of the fire department such
as it was, they were prevented from crossing both Main and Fourth streets. But
in spite of the heroic efforts of the people the entire block bounded by Fourth,
Washington, Fifth and Main streets was burned to the ground except the building
belonging to the Tilley estate and Philip Hiltz' property, both in the south
east corner of the block. The total losses occasioned by the fire aggregated
$35,500, with a total insurance of $22,000.
The fire suggested the need of a better protection against such
occurrences and the city council submitted to the people a vote of a special tax
of two and a half mills for fire purposes. A proposition for a special school
tax was also submitted to the people by the board of school directors. The fire
tax carried while the special school tax was voted down.
In the hope that the annual fair of the Industrial Association would be
more of a success in 1882 than that of the year previous, it was divided into
two departments: a stock exhibit at the fair grounds, to be held August 28, and
an exhibit of fruits and manufactured articles to be held in Columbia Hall in
October. This seemed to be an improvement on the exhibition of the previous
year but was far from being satisfactory to the promoters of the enterprise.
On August 29th occurred, through a misapprehension, the death of Andrew
McClure an habitual drunkard.

p78 c1

Mr. E. A. Stevens, agent for Adam's Express, was awakened at night by a strange
noise at the back door. He demanded: "Who's there?" and there came a maudlin
response something like "I want silver." Stevens then fired his pistol at the
door. The groan of the victim indicated that the shot had taken effect. Upon
opening the door Mr. Stevens was surprised to find old Andy McClure. A coroners
jury exonerated Mr. Stevens in his action in the matter. Andy was doubtless
looking for something to eat.
The local political campaign this summer was one of exciting interest.
The Republican convention renominated the old ticket. Disaffection had grown
up; taxes were high. The Democratic county convention was called for September
30th at 11 o'clock a. m. The People's convention met at 11 a. m. and placed a
full county ticket in the field. At 2 o'clock the Democratic convention met and
adjourned sine die without naming a ticket. The following were the nominations:

REPUBLICAN.
For Joint Councilman: S. G. Ward.
For Representative: F. R. Brown.
For Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For Auditor: A. A. Phillips.
For Treasurer: N. Crosby.
For Assessor: H. H. Morgan.
For Commissioners: J. Gibson, J. M. Swan.
For Probate Judge: T. M. Reed, Jr.
For School Superintendent: J. R. Thompson.
For Surveyor: F. W. Brown.
For Coroner: N. Pattison.

PEOPLE'S.
For Joint Councilman: C. H. Hale.
For Representative: Peterfield Turpin.
For Sheriff: Frank Ruth.
For Auditor: C. M. Moore.

p78 c2

For Treasurer: J. H. Munson.
For Assessor: R. P. Shoecraft.
For Commissioners: J. L. Yantis, J. S. Dobbins.
For Probate Judge: Francis Henry.
For School Superintendent: Mrs. P. C. Hale.
For Surveyor: F. W. Brown.
For Coroner: N. Pattison.

The People's ticket was elected except Frank Ruth for sheriff and R. P.
Shoecraft for assessor.
In October one H. F. Hutchinson claimed $1000 damages against the city for
receiving a broken leg on account of a defective sidewalk. As a compromise he
offered to take $500. The city council refused to pay. Hutchinson brought suit
against the city and Judson & Israel, a law firm, were employed to defend for a
fee of $250. The matter reached the supreme court where a judgment for $1200
was rendered against the city.
This fall the water company began investigating the feasibility of putting
a pump in Moxlie Creek in the southeastern part of the city and forcing the
water to a reservoir located on the hill from which the supply could be extended
to all parts of the city. The project was not carried but such a scheme was
reserved for another company at a considerable later date.
In December Peterfield Turpin, who had recently been elected a member of
the legislature suffered a stroke of paralysis which incapacitated him for work.
He never recovered front the affliction, although he lived several years.
During the preceding years a controversy had grown up in official circles
over the assessing of railroad lands and at the November term of the county
commissioners Mr. Swan, chairman of the board, was directed to confer with the
commissioners of Cowlitz, Lewis. Chehalis and Mason counties with a view to
securing

p79 c1

a unity of action in net, assessing of the lands of the Northern Pacific.
In April a special session of the county commissioners was called to a
matter of difference that had grown up between the city and county, to-wit: who
lawfully should collect and expend the special road and bridge tax levied on all
property within the corporate limits of the city of Olympia, the city or the
county. J. S. Dobbins was authorized to sign an agreement on the part of the
commissioners to refer the question to the judge of the district court and to
abide by such decision. Mr. McKenzie, chairman of the board, objected to the
proceedings on the ground that the question submitted was not accompanied by a
statement of fact in the case. The statement was accordingly signed by Mayor
Ostrander and councilmen on the part of the city and Mr. McKenzie as chairman of
the board. Mr. McKenzie also filed a protest to accompany the papers to the
district judge.
On May 11th Judge Hoyt reported verbally that he deemed it best to not
give a decision on the subject as there did not seem to be a harmonious feeling
in regard to the matter between all parties concerned. On May 23 the
commissioners ordered that the treasurer's duplicate receipts for the taxes in
dispute be accepted and the auditor be instructed to settle with the treasurer
in accordance therewith. Mr. McKenzie objected.
At the same session of the board Chairman McKenzie resigned, assigning as
his reason pressing personal business. At the August term J. S. Dobbins was
appointed chairman of the board and B. F. Ruth appointed commissioner vice Mr.
McKenzie.
In March of this year the school fund became exhausted and on the
recommendation of Mrs. P. C. Hale, county superintendent, a tuition fee

p79 c2

was charged to keep the school going nine months.
This year the Sister's School or Providence Academy was established.
The census taken this summer by the assessor showed a population of 2764
in the county- 520 less than in 1882. The result was not generally satisfactory
and numerous were the complaints that the returns were imperfect.
At the annual city election in April, N. Ostrander was re-elected mayor
and the following councilmen, each for two years: First ward, C. Burmeister;
Second ward, R. G. O'Brien; Third ward, C. H. Hale. Clerk, J. V. Yantis;
Treasurer, C. B. Mann. On June 19, Councilman Yaeger, one of the holdovers,
died and Thomas Tallentire was appointed in his place.
This city council made a contract with W. N. Horton for ten fire plugs at
$600 per year and in October purchased a Silsby fire engine and a lot on
Columbia street for an engine house.
This summer again was agitated the railroad through to the Chehalis
valley. The route calculated upon was to start down the eastside about a mile
and a half, to run between the city and Tumwater, thence to Black Lake, Young's,
Miami Prairie, through Camas prairie to the Black Hills, thence crossing the
river to Greenwood, to Elma, Satsop and on to Montesano- a distance of 47 miles.
Like all early railroads in pioneer settlements the railroad existed only in the
minds of its projectors, although the feasibility of such a route would
generally commend itself.
The city schools opened this fall with Prof. L. E. Follansbee as
principal; Ellen S. Stevenson, Gertrude McCausland and A. R. Anderson as
assistants.
In August the First National Bank was organized with Judge Hoyt as
president and succeeded to the business

p80 c1

of the banking house of Geo. A. Barnes. In August were filed the articles of
incorporation of the Olympia Light Company. Its objects were to erect works for
the manufacture of hydrogen gas and for the generation of electric fluid to
supply Olympia and Tumwater with light for business and domestic purposes. The
capital stock was placed at $1000, divided into one thousand shares at $1 each.
The incorporators were Geo. A. Barnes, T. I. McKenny, Geo. Gelbach, A. A.
Phillips, Jno. P. Hoyt, A. H. Chambers, N. H. Owings and N. S. Porter.
On August 26 the Carlton House took fire and burned to the ground. As the
fall wore along the business men of the town began to reflect upon the
facilities for caring for strangers. The biennial legislature would convene in
December and lodging houses were few and small. In consideration of the
exigencies of the case Mrs. L. M. Clark, who owned the site, determined to
rebuild.
During the fall there occurred a decline in the price of logs owing to an
over production; mill yards had more than they could use.
The year 1883 was one of business activity. The city of Olympia took on
an air of increasing prosperity which made an increasing demand for county
products. In the spring August Schneider opened a brick yard on the west side
of the bay. Several residences were erected and there arose a general increased
demand for tenements and lodging apartments. In November was established a saw
mill on the west side.
This fall the Olympia Collegiate Institute was chartered by those
connected with the Puget Sound conference of the M. E. Church and succeeded to
the property of the Union Academy on the east side of the bay.
This summer the city council undertook the mammoth task of grading

p80 c2

Fourth street through Swantown. It was proposed to make a cut through the bluff
just east of the bridge. As the adjoining property owners began to contemplate
the elevations at which they would be left, protests to the improvement were
numerous. The dirt used in making the excavation was used in making a fill at
the east end of the bridge, being run down in cars.
A suit for damages was instituted against the city by T. C. Van Epps and
wife, but though it remained on the court docket several terms did not come to
trial.
The composition of the legislature, when it assembled in December,
indicated the rapid immigration reaching all parts of the territory, several new
comers composing the membership. This was the memorable legislature that
granted woman suffrage and the passage of the bill was ratified by a grand
jubilee.

1884.
The year 1884 opened with the municipal election in the city. J. S.
Dobbins was chosen mayor; A. E. Chambers, councilman from the First ward; C. B.
Bagley from the Second and Thomas Tallentire from the Third. J. L. Henderson,
treasurer; J. V. Yantis clerk; M. Shields, street commissioner and N. S. Porter,
city attorney. The new council resurrected the ghost of the controversy with
the school district. To settle matters the city attorney was directed to prepare
the school district a quit claim deed to the premises but this action was
subsequently reconsidered and a proposition of Mr. Bagley was carried that a
good deed be given to the school district when the district quit claims the
court house property, that on the corner of Sixth and Franklin streets, to the
county. Mr. Chambers asked that the district be required to repay the $300 paid
the county but his amendment was lost by the mayor voting No.

p81 c1

This winter the route of the railroad was changed to run on the west side
of the bay from Warren's Point instead of on piling. This was the route
originally contemplated but abandoned owing to difficulty in securing the right
of way. As rebuilt the depot was built in a small cove to the south of the
Marshville bridge which was continued in use until the road passed into other
hands in 1890.
In February 1884 was organized Capitol Lodge No. 15 Knights of Pythias.
This winter C. B. Bagley sold the Courier to W. H. Roberts and Fred
Dunham.
The spring of 1884 opened with indications of continued growth of the
town.
A sewerage system was agitated.
The contract was let to build the Horr block on Main street for $6,792.
Real estate was on the move and street grading was agitated and each
councilman was looking out for his ward. Propositions to grade Eastside and
Union streets aroused opposition and neither was improved.
On May 14, the city council ordered that the new fire engine should not
leave the business portion of the city. On the 26th the residence of Marshall
Blinn on the corner of Union and Washington streets took. fire. The alarm was
sounded and though personal efforts were made to save the building, the
engineer would not permit the steamer to leave the stable. The action of the
council in forbidding the steamer to leave the business portion of the city was
severely criticized and on June 14 permission was given the engineer to take it
to the suburbs when necessity required.
In July there arose a question over the right of the city to exact a
license from saloons and the question was submitted to the supreme court.
The county assessment this year

p81 c2

was considered by many too high; a citizens committee appeared before the board
of commissioners and urged that the assessments be reduced 40 or 50 per cent and
that real estate be assessed at its actual value rather than the fictitious
values placed upon it for speculative purposes. The board replied that the
assessment roll would be equalized in accordance with legal advice.
As the time for the biennial election drew near two tickets were in the
field: Republican and Democratic, as follows. At this election women exercised
the right of suffrage:

REPUBLICAN.
For Joint Councilman; Clen Crosby.
For Representative: Thos. Tallentire.
For Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For Auditor. Brad W. Davis.
For Treasurer: C. B. Mann.
For Assessor: Samuel James.
For Probate Judge: W. F. Keady.
For School Superintendent: Jennie Moore.
For Commissioners: A. B. Woodard, Geo. B. Capen.
For Surveyor: G. C. Cline.
For Coroner: A. Hartsuck.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Joint Councilman: Wm. McLane
For Representative: N. Ostrander.
For Sheriff: Fred Guyot.
For Auditor: C. M. Moore.
For Treasurer: J. H. Munson.
For Probate Judge: F. Henry.
For School Superintendent: Mrs. P. C. Hale.
For Commissioners: T. Prather, L. K. Longmire.
For Surveyor: R. E. Andrews.
For Coroner. B. Harned.
For Wreckmaster: I. V. Mossman.

The Democratic ticket was largely the People's ticket of the previous
campaign and made up of members of both parties.
The Republican ticket was elected

p82 c1

with the exception of Tallentire for representative, Davis for auditor and Keady
for probate judge.
The proposition to tax church property, submitted to the voters received
457 majority in the county.
This year Chas. Burmeister erected a brick store building at the corner of
Main and Third streets.
Additions were made to the school house on Union street by adding a wing
to each side.
In June the Northern Pacific railway opened an office in Olympia,
appointing S. G. Ward, agent.
In November the Olympia Building and Loan Association was organized with
2000 shares at $200 each, the incorporators being: J. T. Brown, T. M. Reed, J.
C. Ten Eyck, T. C. Van Epps, J. F. Gowey, F. Henry, G. S. Allen and Alfred
Thompson.
The Potlatch Club, a social organization, was formed, the membership being
limited to men.
This year Gov. Newell was succeeded by Gov. Squire.
A brewery was built on the Hale property on the eastside.
Work was commenced this year on the works for generating hydrogen gas for
illuminating purposes and a charter granted the Pacific Construction Company.
The works were erected on the east side of the bay between Fifth and Sixth
streets.
In December occurred the death of George Agnew, an odd and historic
character. He came to Olympia with Gov. Isaac I. Stevens in 1853 and on account
of his eccentricities was a favorite with the old timers.

1885
In January of the new year P. P. Carroll established the Republican.
This spring I. C. Ellis who had been conducting logging operations on the
Eastside below the Gallagher claim, moved his camp up Moxlie creek and marketed
the timber that stood to the

p82 c2

southeast of the city. In constructing his tramway to the water it was
necessary to bridge a deep and narrow canyon through which the Northern Pacific
railway now passes. The bridge was supported on logs built up log cabin style.
For succeeding years this afforded the only means of communication between the
city and the straggling settlers off to the southeast. It was secretly burned
in 1890 by the railway graders in order to lay the Northern Pacific track.
At the city election in January A. A Phillips was elected Mayor: E. T.
Young, councilman from the first ward; J. M. Lammon from Second Ward and F. A.
Hoffman from Third Ward; J. V. Yantis clerk; Fred Guyot Marshal and M. Shields,
street commissioner.
The liquor license was reduced by this council from $600 to $300 by a tie
vote, the mayor voting for the reduced license.
The insufficiency of the city's water supply was becoming patent and it
was proposed to construct an immense cistern from Main to Washington streets on
Fifth street, ten feet deep, eight feet eight inches wide and two hundred fifty
feet long, to hold 150,000 gallons. The estimated cost in cement was $1,800; in
cedar $650.
This spring the city clerk was removed and W. Irving appointed. In August
he was suspended for malfeasance and Robert Marr elected in his stead.
The cut made in grading Eighth street, between Main and Washington,
endangered the safety of Masonic Hall, which stood on the north line of the lot.
The building was accordingly moved to the southward, to near the centre of the
lot.
The grading of streets, moving earth and making cuts aroused numerous
small controversies between property owners or between property owners

p83 c1

and the city. General Anderson complained of the gas company removing the bluff
south of his property on Fifth street near the corner of Chestnut.
In January a special school tax of $3500 was voted by a majority of 25,
but the opposition raised the question of legality and it was so declared by
Judge Hoyt.
In January the Shakespeare Dramatic society was organized and maintained
as a literary organization during the winter with considerable interest.
In February was organized the Olympia Bar Association.
The manufacture of gas for illuminating purposes, begun in 1884, was
completed this year and the product turned on for illumination with satisfactory
results.
In August the Puget Sound Pipe company was incorporated and succeeded to
the manufacture of wood pipe under the Horton patent. The works were operated
on the east side of the bay at the foot of Third street.
Notwithstanding hard times building was fairly prosperous during 1885 but
mostly in the line of residences.
The county commissioners appropriated $200 to rebuild the lower Tumwater
bridge.
In November Dr. Woodard resigned as a member of the county board and
Thomas Prather was appointed in his place.
This year W. A. Bush and George Gaston carried on extensive logging
operations beyond Bush Prairie along the line of the Tenino road, logs being
transported to tide water by trains.
On the incoming of the Cleveland administration A. D. Glover was appointed
postmaster at Olympia.
As the usual sequence of flush times the boom of 1883-84 was followed in
1885 with hard times and high taxes. Fictitious values placed on property

p83 c2

by speculators reach the assessor's office, thence the assessment roll. The
boom spirit prompts unnecessary expenditures. The next step was a high rate of
taxation. This was the situation in 1885. At the incoming of the city
administration in January the ways and means committee issued an address
reviewing the financial condition of the city. The situation was no better in
county matters. Without the positive assurance that it would do any good a
taxpayers protective association was organized in October, its object being to
prevent the levying and to resist the collection of unjust and illegal taxes and
to prosecute all recreant, district, city and county officers. Any taxpayer
owning $1000 worth of property was eligible to membership. The association had
twenty-one members who elected: G. A. Barnes, president; Mrs. A. H. H. Stuart,
vice-president, and Francis Henry, treasurer. The record of the association
seems to be limited to 1885.
The scheme to take water from Ferguson's lake for city purposes was
speculated upon this fall.
In November the Courier was bought by T. H. Cavanaugh and the name changed
to the Partisan and as such was the leading Republican paper of the county.
In December of this year Allen & Harkness made an addition to their mill
on Third street for the manufacture of sash and doors.
The year 1885 witnessed the death of one of the pioneers of Olympia who
had in no small degree taken an active part in the growth of Olympia and
Washington Territory- that of Thornton F. McElroy, who died February 5. In
September, 1852, he established at Olympia the Columbian, the first newspaper
published north of the Columbia river. He took an active part in creating
Washington Territory and also an active part in managing its affairs.

p84 c1

He died universally respected by all with whom he came in contact during this
third of a century.
In August of the same year E. T. Gunn, one of the publishers of the
Courier, likewise passed away, and in December Nathaniel Crosby, a pioneer, was
called to the great beyond.
On December 16, occurred a tragedy at Yelm in the eastern part of the
county that for unspeakable horror scarcely has an equal in the annals of crime.
At 6 o'clock in the morning Mrs. Henry Manear arose leaving her five children,
aged from one to three years, and her husband asleep. She saturated the walls
of their cabin, the floor and the bedding with coal oil; then set it on fire.
The fiendish mother refused to leave the building. Upon being aroused by the
flames the eldest girl and father escaped from the windows. The girl rolled on
the ground to extinguish her burning clothing. She attempted to return to the
building but was more seriously injured. The father escaped with his skin
burned to a crisp. He crawled to a neighboring Indian camp and then to his
father's. He died that night. Four children and the mother were burned with
the building.

1886.
At the municipal election in January a total vote was cast of 349. A. H.
Chambers was chosen mayor; L. Bettman, councilman from the First ward; R. G.
O'Brien from the Second for the full term, and 0. R. Simenson to fill a vacancy
caused by the resignation of Joseph Lammon; Aaron Hartsock from the Third ward.
A proposition was advanced to change the boundaries of the school district
on the northeast but was refused by the county superintendent. Mr. D. R.
Bigelow, one of the interested parties, appealed from the superintendent's
action but the county commissioners sustained the action of the

p84 c2

superintendent.
On June 28 an election was called to determine whether intoxicating drinks
should be sold in the county. The vote resulted in 573 for prohibition to 649
against.
At the August meeting of the board of commissioners, J. W. Sprague,
president of the Olympia and Chehalis Valley railroad company, petitioned for a
release of the mortgage the county held on the road. The company desired this
in order that it might borrow $200,000 with which to improve the road and to
extend it to deep water. The board denied the petition.
The growth of the county in the neighborhood of Mud Bay made it necessary
for a voting precinct, and at this term of the board McLane precinct was
established.
The commissioners provided for the submission to the people at the
November election the proposition to issue and sell $15,000 in bonds for the
purpose of building a new courthouse and jail. This action was taken in view of
the report that the grand jury, made to the district court, declaring as a
nuisance the courthouse then in use. The building then used was the old
schoolhouse built in 1855 by J. M. Swan
In the local political campaign this year there was considerable of an
independent feeling among the people. The following tickets were nominated,

REPUBLICAN.
Joint Councilman: J. F. Gowey.
Joint Representative: T. M. Beed jr.
Sheriff: Geo. D. Messegee.
Auditor. J. P. Tweed.
Treasurer: C. B. Mann.
Assessor: Samuel James.
Commissioners: Jos. Lammon, Geo. B. Capen.
Probate Judge: ------.
School Superintendent: EIla T. Stork.
Surveyor: George T. Cline.
Coroner: A. Hartsuck.

p85 c1

DEMOCRATIC.
Joint Councilman: M. J. Goodell.
Joint Representative: T. C. Van Epps.
Sheriff: J. W. Chambers.
Auditor: H. Swift.
Treasurer: J. N. Squires.
Assessor: A. H. Manier.
Commissioners: A. E. Young, James Longmire.
Probate Judge: F. Henry.
School Superintendent: Mrs. P. C. Hale.
Surveyor: James Frazier.
Coroner: B. Harned.
Wreckmaster: C. Etheridge.

In addition to these party tickets a so-called People's or Independent
movement put out a partial ticket containing the names of William Billings for
sheriff; G. W. French and John Chipman for commissioners; M. A. Root for probate
judge; Ellen Stevenson for school superintendent, and R. Rawson for coroner.
The Republican ticket was elected except Geo. D. Messegee for sheriff. who
was defeated by Wm. Billings, independent; Joseph Lammon for commissioner, who
was defeated by A. E. Young, Democrat, and Ella Stork for school superintendent,
Mrs. Hale being reelected. M. A. Root, independent, was elected probate judge
over Judge Henry. A majority of 690 was cast against issuing $15,000 of court
house and jail bonds.
This year, through the "pull" that Seattle had on the political "powers
that be," the federal land office was removed from Olympia, where it had been
located for about thirty years, to Seattle.
This summer J. H. Gale, an old newspaper man of the city, established the
New Transcript- a temperance paper. Owing largely to the declining health of
the publisher the paper did not receive a liberal patronage and like many
another paper struggled along

p85 c2

until 1888 when it was sold to H. W. Bessac, who changed its name to Review and
made it a Republican paper.
The year was principally characterized by an agitation of the question of
wharfage. The city council elected in January took hold of the project and
offered the First National Bank $150 for a wharf at the foot of Main street
owned by that institution. The transfer was made after some delay in perfecting
a title to the property.
As the summer wore away the proposition to dredge the harbor received a
favorable consideration by citizens and in August the city surveyor was
instructed to make a survey. In October the city contracted with the Umatilla,
a Portland steamer, to dredge a channel from the Main street wharf to deep
water, a distance of one mile, one hundred feet wide and twelve feet deep at low
tide, the city to pay $400 per day to the ship for three days. Then set in a
sentiment that the harbor should be farther west. A council meeting was called
and it was directed that the harbor be moved westward one hundred and fifty
feet. Work was suspended and in the agonies of the agitation a vote of the
people was called for. The vote resulted in 205 for the first location and 38
for the last, and a contract was accordingly signed with the Oregon Improvement
Company. Day by day passed and work did not begin. About November 1 the people
were promised that the work would begin about the 15th. A few days after that
date the Umatilla arrived but would not begin operations unless the council
waived all claims for damages that might result from the previous delay. The
city assented but still work did not begin. Finally the boat got to work but so
"killed time" that the council availed itself of a provision of the contract and
declared the deal off paying the boat for the time actually put in. The
experiment

p86 c1

cost the city $800 and no harbor-

1887.
In January 1887 the city was canvassed for subscriptions for a hospital to
be established by the Catholic Sisters of Charity. The city donated a block of
land on the corner of Eleventh and Columbia streets. The superioress, Sister
Benedict, began caring for patients on June 1, but the building erected for the
purpose was not ready for occupancy until September.
In January the Olympia Board of Trade was organized. George A. Barnes was
elected president; T. I. McKenny, first vice president; N. Ostrander, second
vice president; Levi W. Ostrander, secretary; A. A. Phillips, treasurer. The
president, vice presidents, treasurer, John Byrne, N. H. Owings, R. H. Milroy,
N. Kaufman and A. H. Chambers were selected as trustees.
This winter the saw mills of Olympia and Tumwater agreed upon the
following prices for the local trade; Rough lumber, $9 per M; flooring 4 inch,
$18; flooring, 6 inch, $16; rustic, $16: cedar, $20 to $40; fir ceiling, $18;
cedar ceiling, $25; wainscoting $25; fir boards, dressed two sides, $20. Twelve
per cent interest was charged on all bills running over thirty days.
The new city administration elected this winter consisted of: A. H.
Chambers, mayor; E. T. Young councilman from the first ward; 0. R. Simenson from
the second ward and J. G. Lybarger from the third ward: Robert Marr, city clerk;
Fred Guyot, Marshall; C. H. Ayer, city attorney; D. S. B. Henry, city surveyor.
In March Mr. Young resigned and John Miller Murphy was elected his successor.
In July Mr. Lybarger resigned and J. S. Dobbins was elected in his stead.
The failure of the deal with the Umatilla to dredge out the harbor turned
the attention of the city authorities

p86 c2

to other projects and in February the new administration considered a
proposition to purchase a half interest in a $50,000 Schmidt dredger.
In the spring bids were invited for a wharf, 450 feet north of the city
wharf at the foot of Main street. This was completed in August at a cost of
$2,193.41. By this improvement communication could be had with boats at low
tide.
In early spring the Thurston county Agricultural Association was organized
with Geo. D. Shannon, F. I. Blodgett, A. W. Eugle, R. G. O'Brien and A. H.
Chambers as directors.
More or less building was done this season and the whilom town began to
take on a more metropolitan appearance.
S. C. Woodruff, who had a short time since purchased the Marsh donation
claim on the west side of the bay, erected a two story brick building on Main
street between Third and Fourth streets.
A. H. Chambers who owned the north east corner of Main and Fourth streets,
improved his property this summer by the erection of a two story brick block.
On this property, back in the fifties was the large spring previously referred
to, which then supplied the village with water.
In July Oliver Shead of Seatco on the Skookumchuck in the southeastern
part of the county platted the town site of Bucoda. Here in 1884 was located
the works of the Seatco Manufacturing Company owned by Whittier Fuller & Co. At
an early day Jos. Gibson, Hannaford Brothers and others had located in the
fertile valleys adjoining the present site. In close proximity to the town was
valuable coal properties which were looked upon as giving the place the nucleus
for an inland town of considerable importance.
As illustrating the neglect and

p87 c1

backward growth that had characterized Olympia during the years past it is
proper to mention that E. Martensen had recently arrived and bought a twenty
acre tract on Ayer's Hill covered with a second growth of fir. Upon cutting it
away he found full grown fruit trees, set out fully thirty years before.
In November occurred a holocaust and murder at Shelton that attracted
attention at Olympia for the next four years and proved of interest to the
taxpayers of Thurston county. On the night of November 20, the Kneeland Hotel
of Shelton took fire with twenty five or thirty inmates asleep. Angus McLain
was the proprietor and while the building was burning, looked on perfectly
unconcerned. One of the inmates lost his life. McLain was arrested charged
with arson and murder and hurriedly brought to Olympia to escape lynching. He
was subsequently tried, found guilty and sentenced to hang but in 1891 on appeal
to the supreme court the judgment was reversed and the case remanded for a new
trial. Bond was furnished and he was liberated. The new trial has not yet been
had and probably never will be owing to the absence of the state's witnesses.
At the February meeting of the county commissioners, the Olympia board of trade
and several of the leading citizens of the city urged that the board cancel the
mortgage on the Tenino railroad as petitioned for by Gen. Sprague at the August
term preceding. Gen. Sprague, Robert Wingate and F. R. Brown of the railroad
company being present said the company was ready to give a second bond and
mortgage and to give a personal bond that the company would expend $200,000 in
improving and extending the road. The bond and mortgage was then canceled and
the new ones filed for record.

p87 c2

Old Father time with his scythe had cut more than his usual swath during
the Year through the pioneers. On March 9th W. N. Horton who had done so much
to supply Olympia with its first water system was found dead in his state room
on the steamer Emma Hayward, then plying between Olympia and Seattle. In August
Capt. C. H. Hale who came to Olympia in 1852 and who, as the reader has seen,
was foremost in matters pertaining to the development of the county, passed from
earth. In October Isaac Dofflemeyer, another early settler, breathed his last
and in December Mrs. L. G. Abbott joined the silent majority.
During the year there originated controversy over the ownership of Tacoma
Hall. In 1869 Captain Finch donated it to the Good Templars to be used as a
lodge hall and a public reading room and when it ceased to be so used to revert
to the donor. Of late years the members had rather lost interest in the
organization and although the reading room on the first floor was kept open the
hall was used for miscellaneous purposes. In April 1887 the trustees of the
Olympia Collegiate Institute secured from Capt. Finch his reversionary interest
in the Tacoma Hall property and notified the Good Templars that they had failed
to comply with the conditions of the transfer to them and demanded possession.
In 1888 suit for possession was instituted by the Collegiate Institute and
decided in favor of the Good Templars.

1888.
During the year 1887 matters had begun "to look our way" as the people
expressed it. Immigrants were coming, bringing more or less of eastern money.
The hope of coming state hood urged them forward. The property owners on the
ground caught the spirit and improvements were inaugurated

p88 c1

In February 1888 Samuel Williams began the erection of a brick building on
the northwest corner of Main and Fourth streets. Several residences were built
and during the year the local mills were unable to fill the orders for building
material.
Olympia Lodge No. 1, I.0.0.F. this year erected a three story brick temple
at the corner of Main and Fifth streets, leasing the ground floor for stores and
the second floor for offices and lodging rooms.
The wharf to deep water that had been under discussion so many years was
completed this summer at a cost of $12,000. Early in the spring W. C. Morrell
sold the saw mill on the west side to H. M. Pierce of Minnesota.
The project to re-fund the debt, incurred in aiding the Tenino road, was
agitated early in the Year and in May it was proposed to issue new bonds at a
lower rate of interest. Bids were called for to be opened in November but when
the day of sale arrived no bids had been received and the matter went over to
the next year.
The new city government for the year consisted of A. H. Chambers, mayor;
J. M. Murphy councilman from First ward for full term; L. Bettman for one year;
R. G. O'Brien, second ward; Ed Harkness, third ward.
The growth of the city had made capitalists keen for franchises and there
was considerable feeling around during the year for street privileges, although
not until the next year did the various schemes of this character mature.
For the better caring for freight a warehouse was built at the end of the
long wharf.
Since 1885 Allen C. Mason of Tacoma had owned a controlling interest in
the gas works. In August of this year A. H. Chambers, Robert Frost and Mrs.
Hale bought the Mason

p88 c2

stock, Mr. Mason still retaining an interest in the electric light plant.
The county election for 1888 had its usual interest. Three full tickets
were in the field as follows:

REPUBLICAN.
For Representative: I. C. Ellis.
For Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For Auditor: J. P. Tweed.
For Treasurer: C. B. Mann.
For Probate Judge: M. A. Root.
For School Superintendent: L. P. Venen.
For Assessor, S. James.
For Surveyor: B. W. Brintnall.
For County Commissioners: Thomas Prather, R. A. Brewer.
For Coroner: A. Hartsuck.
For Wreckmaster. Geo. Foster.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Representative: M. Fredson.
For Sheriff: R. B. Hoy.
For Auditor: D. S. B. Henry.
For Treasurer: Milton Giles.
For Probate Judge: U. E. Hicks.
For School Superintendent: Theo. Young.
For Assessor. B. F. Ruth.
For Surveyor: James Frazier.
For County Commissioners: Louis Bettman, G. S. Prince.
For Coroner: H. Hadlan.
For Wreckmaster: C. Ethridge.

PROHIBITION.
For Representative: J. L. Henderson.
For Sheriff: C. W. Borden.
For Auditor: R. F. Whitham.
For Treasurer: F. M. Canady.
For Probate Judge: Thos. Rutledge.
For School Superintendent: R. H. Massey.
For Assessor: G. A. Henry.
For Surveyor: A. Erickson.
For County Commissioners: W. B. Hannah, Alex. Henry.
For Coroner: C. H. Koontz.

At this election a vigorous fight was made to defeat the reelection of Wm.
Billings for sheriff but the entire Republican

p89 c1

ticket was elected with the exception of I. C. Ellis for representative.
During the year occurred the death of Thomas Tallentire, for several years
a member of the city council. Also that of Hugh Cornell of Tumwater.

1889.
The year 1889 was a year of growth to Thurston county unequaled by any one
of the preceding forty years.
The phenomenal growth of the entire territory during the last decade had
had its influence in all localities. The timber lands and fertile valleys of
Thurston county were eagerly sought and many rural improvements were
inaugurated.
Olympia had all these years been the capital of the territory. Public
institutions were located in and appropriations made to benefit other cities.
Olympia dare not ask for anything for there was continually held over her, by
the politicians of other places, the threat that the capitol would be removed as
soon as the territory was admitted as a state. On February 22, the bill for the
admission of Washington was signed by the president of the United States. The
occasion was appropriately celebrated in Olympia as elsewhere. Real estate took
a "boom;" prices advanced, real estate offices opened and building enterprises
were inaugurated. The act of admission required the meeting of delegates at the
capital to form a state constitution. To properly fit the capitol for this
convention required an addition to the old structure that had done service for
the statesmen of the territory for thirty years. The enterprising citizens of
the city took the matter in hand and built the addition. The city council
appropriated $2500.
Early in May occurred the election of delegates to the constitutional
convention. Those elected from Thurston

p89 c2

and Lewis counties were: T. M. Reed, J. F. Gowey and Francis Henry, all from
this county.
The convention met July 4th in Olympia and adjourned August 22. The
election on the ratification of the constitution as well as for the location of
the capitol of the new state was held October 9.
A state senator, two members of the house of representatives, a county
clerk and a superior judge were also elected at this election. These offices
were provided for in the constitution to be submitted to the voters. The
following tickets were placed in nomination:

REPUBLICAN.
For Senator: N. H. Owings.
For Representatives: W. 0. Bush, Francis Rotch.
For Superior Judge: Mason Irwin.
For County Clerk: W. F. Keady.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Senator: D. L. Ward.
For Representatives: Daniel Gaby, G. S. Prince.
For Superior Judge: T. N. Allen.
For County Clerk: James Radcliffe.

The Republican candidates were elected,
The proposition on the location of the capital as it was submitted
required the successful competitor to receive a majority of all votes cast. In
case none bad such majority the question was to be again submitted in 1890, the
vote to be confined to the three having the highest number of votes in 1889 and
in case no choice was had in 1890 the question was to be submitted at the next
general election,
At the election in 1889 there were three avowed candidates, although a few
other towns entered the list to assist in inflating their real estate booms. The
result of this election was the adoption of the constitution and the following
vote on the location of the capitol: Olympia, 25,490; North Yakima,

p90 c1

14,711; Ellensburg, 12,883; Centralia, 607; Yakima, 314; Pasco, 130; Scattering,
1,088. No town having a majority, the matter was left for determination at a
subsequent election.
The improvement in the real estate market and the universal renewal of
confidence in Olympia property made a demand for a daily newspaper. Such
business ventures had been attempted before but with disastrous results to
those who put up the money. In the present extremity John Miller Murphy of the
Washington Standard contracted in February with the real estate men of the city
and other business interests to publish an evening paper for six months, the
other parties agreeing to run advertisements for that period. The publication
was named the Evening Olympian and proved of great interest as an advertising
medium. The real estate excitement, however, was short lived. By May it had
entirely subsided and before fall the market was dead. The sixth month's
contracts expired in the midst of the capital campaign, but the Olympia board of
trade continued the publication of the Olympian until after the election.
In April, S. C. Woodruff platted and put upon the market, Woodruff's
Addition, formerly the Marsh donation claim. Numerous other additions were
platted, most of them of a speculative character.
Brickyards at available points were opened and many buildings erected for
business and residence purposes.
For some time there had been felt the need of additional hotel
accommodations. The traveling traffic was limited, not sufficient to justify a
single individual in erecting a first class hostelrie. In contemplating the
exigencies of the occasion in the spring of '89 a few of the enterprising
citizens of the place resorted to a joint stock company. Plans were perfected

p90 c2

and bids called for, to be opened April 18. Ferguson & Clark of Seattle were
awarded the contract, they having the lowest bid but they refused to sign the
bonds and forfeited the $1000 deposited with their bid. The contract was then
awarded to J. W. Roberts of Olympia. Amid discouragements the building was
completed in the spring of 1890 and though not a paying investment to its
projectors it stands as a monument to their enterprise as public spirited
citizens.
During the year a variety of railroad schemes were advanced and agitated
but none matured until the following year.
The spirit of enterprise had pervaded other parts of the county. The
railroad junction at Tenino had given rise to a busy town and its neighbor
Bucoda had become a manufacturing center. In 1888 Messrs. Garland & Rotch of
Wisconsin bought the Seatco manufacturing plant, enlarged it and made extensive
shipments to eastern and southern markets.
The increase in population had shown itself in the number of pupils
knocking at the doors in September for admission to the public schools. It
became necessary to rent rooms in town to accommodate the demand for school
facilities. Under the constitution adopted, the first state legislature
convened in November. It was a memorable body. The hotel accommodations were
poor and private rooms scarce. The inaugural ceremonies of the first state
administration were grand and imposing. Never before was the city so thronged
with visitors from abroad.
In 1888 Geo. B. Capen, president of the board of county commissioners, J.
W. Robinson, district attorney, and John P. Tweed, auditor, were designated to
make a sale of county bonds at a lower rate of interest. In May 1889 they
reported that bonds to the

p91 c1

amount of $75,000 had been sold, bearing interest at 6 per cent. In August
$63,000 of the outstanding railroad bonds were called in.
At the January municipal election John F. Gowey was re-elected mayor; F.
F. Williamson councilman from the First ward; T. J. McBratney from the Second
and C. Z. Mason from the Third.
Among the first acts of the new council was vacating Eighth street west of
Main for the erection of the new hotel. This year arose a case of more than
usual interest to the property owners on graded streets. The city land assessed
the cost of grading to the adjoining property but in 1887 Dr. Ostrander disputed
the right of the city to do this and took the case into courts. The result was
awaited with interest.
In May occurred the disastrous conflagration in Seattle when the
benevolence of all parts of the state responded in affording relief and the city
council appropriated $500 to be forwarded to the sufferers. The secret of this
remarkable liberality with the people's money laid in tile coming capital
campaign. Seattle's influence for Olympia was desired.
In October $1000 was appropriated by the city to aid in the capital
campaign.
Tile years 1889 and 189O will live in Olympia's history as the era of
franchises when monopolies were created and had conferred upon them privileges
which, for nearly a generation make the people subservient to their sweet will.
On March 7 was granted a franchise to the Olympia and Tumwater Railway,
Light and Power Company, to run a railway on certain streets to continue twenty-
five years. On March 28, George M. Savage and his associates were granted
similar privileges on Fourth street and other

p91 c2

streets on the east side for a like period.
In April the Sunset Telephone-Telegraph Company was chartered.
In September George M. Savage was granted a railway franchise on other
streets.
In September the. Olympia Water Company was granted the use of the
streets for laying water mains and the city contracted to pay $100 per year per
hydrant for twenty hydrants for fire extinguishing purposes to continue twenty
years.
In December the Western Union Telegraph Company was granted the right to
erect poles and stretch wires in the streets.
Also in December E. T. Young was given the right to supply the city with
the incandescent system of electric lighting.
This year the magnificent stone quarries at Tenino began to attract
attention and as the surface earth was removed the bluff was found to be of
solid rock- an excellent building stone.
This year was organized the North Olympia Land Company which purchased
large tracts of land north east of the city being the land Ira Bradley Thomas
bought in 1871 for the Northern Pacific railway and which through the sudden
death of Mr. Thomas, had run the course of the courts.
The Olympia & Gray Harbor Electric Company was organized this year to
construct and maintain a telephone line front Olympia to the towns on Gray's
harbor.
In July the Olympia Review was bought of H. W. Bessac by J. C. Rathbun who
had located in the city the previous May.
In the fall was organized the State Printing Company, of which Hon. 0. C.
White, secretary of the territory, was manager. It purchased the Partisan
newspaper property of T. H.

p92 c1

Cavanaugh and courted the state printing from the state legislature.
Thus closed upon Thurston county the year 1889. The hopes and dreams of
those pioneers who had battled with frontier hardships were now about to
culminate in an actual reality. Olympia was a city! Washington a state, and
that city the capital, for, although another election was necessary it was
universally conceded that the battle was practically over and won.

1890.
The year 1890 dawned on Thurston county with the people in the habiliments
of metropolitan life. The legislature was in session, money was
plenty, prices were high and everybody happy.
In January J. F. Gowey was reelected mayor; John Miller Murphy councilman
front the First ward; R. G. O'Brien from the Second ward and Ed. Harkness from
the Third ward.
Early in the year was handed down a decision in the Ostrander case,
maintaining the right of the city to assess the cost of street grading to the
abutting property. The result was to stimulate street grading as it was not
costing the city anything. Whenever a few residents desired the street in front
of their property graded, the council ordered it done, paid the bills by
warrants drawn on the city treasury and assessed the cost pro rata against the
abutting lots.
In April a special municipal election was ordered to vote upon the
proposition to incur a municipal indebtedness not to exceed five per cent of the
city's assessed valuation. The election was carried by a vote of 176 to 14.
The system of franchises so elaborately inaugurated in 1889 was extended
into 1890. It had come to pass that when the nerve of the speculator prompted
the request for a right of the people which on the face of the

p92 c2

proposition was to be used for the benefit of the public, and he was met by the
city fathers in a calm, frigid, unexcited, business manner that cool verdant,
ante bellum synonym, "mossback" was hissed between the teeth of the new comers
who were rapidly crowding the good old fatherly, pioneers to the minority. The
city fathers were serving without pay, did not like to bear the word mossback
applied to them and yielded.
Early in 1890 J. C. Percival was granted the right to construct a wharf
along Water street.
In the winter of 1890 the Olympia Water Company sold its plant to a
company of Cincinnati capitalists who desired to make an extension of the system
and in March were granted a new charter. This company put in an excellent water
system, superior to that of any other city on the Puget Sound. A reservoir was
constructed on Ayer's hill east of the city, into which water was pumped from
the Moxlie creek springs. Pipes were laid throughout the city, connecting with
the reservoir and the pumping station.
In May 1890 was granted to the Portland and Puget Sound Railroad Company
the right to use and cross certain street. This was the Union Pacific road.
In June the Olympia Railway Company was granted the use of the principal
streets of the city.
Also in June the Olympia Light & Power Company was granted the use of the
streets for track, poles and wires.
Also to the Tacoma, Olympia Gray's Harbor Railroad over and through
certain streets. This was the Northern Pacific. In granting this franchise
arose a controversy in reference to the use of Seventh street. The street was
several feet above the railroad grade on either side and strong

p93 c1

objection was made by the property owners to making a cut. The proposition to
make the railroad grade along that street sufficiently low to permit the
excavation being bridged over was incorporated in the ordinance.
In August the franchise of the Portland & Puget Sound Company was so
amended that the company might cross Fourth street, at its intersection with
Chestnut at a grade four feet below the grade of the street, as established by
the city. The original ordinance required the railroad company to cross Fourth
street on the established grade.
In December parts of several streets were vacated to form terminal grounds
for the Tacoma, Olympia & Gray's Harbor railroad.
As might be imagined this multiplicity of franchises over the same streets
gave rise to conflicting interests as to which had the prior right, which the
center of the street, etc.
This gave rise to night work, Sunday work, etc., to secure some imaginary
advantage over a competitor.
The first man to make use of his franchise and "to make the wheels go
round" was George M. Savage, who laid a track along Main street from Fourth to
Thirteenth and in the winter put on two horse cars. He did not use his Fourth
street franchise until a rival company began to talk business when Mr. Savage,
to secure the center of the street, kept slowly at work until he reached Puget
street, on the side of Ayer's Hill.
The growth of the school population and the scarcity of accommodations
suggested immediate action toward school bindings. In January an election was
called to vote upon a proposition to borrow $59,000 to erect two modern school
buildings. One vote was cast against the proposition. During the summer two
elegant buildings

p93 c2

were erected- one on Eastside, the other in South Olympia, at a total cost of
the sum borrowed.
In February were filed articles of incorporation of the Olympia, Sherman
Valley and Gray's Harbor railroad, a logging road designed to reach the two
hundred millions feet of timber in the Black Hills. The articles are doubtless
still on file.
With the opening of spring the Olympia boom began expanding, reminding the
older settlers of experiences in 1872 when the Northern Pacific was locating its
Sound terminus and with the growth of the boom came the railroad magnates
seeking subsidies. The first was by the local road and a subsidy of $50,000 was
guaranteed.
On April 10 the Union Pacific representatives submitted a proposition to
the people of Olympia, to-wit: that they would build a road from Portland to
Seattle through Olympia if the city would give: 1st, right of way through the
city; 2nd, fifteen acres for terminal grounds; 3rd, one thousand feet of water
front and 4th $50,000 in cash, work to begin on or before June 1, 1890, and cars
to be running to Tacoma by December 31, 1891.
Representatives of the Port Townsend & Southern Railroad, who had recently come
into possession of the Tenino road, were present at the same meeting, and
offered to build freight and passenger depots within the city limits if the city
would give them: 1st $50,000 in money; 2nd, right of way on the west side to
deep water; 3rd, terminal grounds to the extent of 300 by 1500 feet and would
have the road completed to Portland by January 1, 1891.
Both propositions were accepted and committees appointed to canvass the
city for subscriptions and in a few weeks the $50,000 was subscribed.
In May representatives of the Northern Pacific submitted a written

p94 c1

proposition to the citizens of Olympia, guaranteeing to build and operate a line
from its main line to Olympia by December 1st next and extend said line to
Gray's Harbor and have it in operation by February 1, 1891, on condition that
the citizens of Olympia would give: lst, depot grounds, 200 by 2000 feet or 300
by 1500 feet; 2nd, right of way through the city; 3rd, $50,000 in cash or land
at a fair appraisement. A committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions and
it was found a difficult matter. Every effort had been made it appeared to
raise the $100,000 for the other two companies. Then, again, a large number of
the citizens remembered the treatment accorded the town in 1872 and were
disposed to give the Northern Pacific no consideration at all. But the pending
capitol campaign and the influence that that company might or might not wield in
Eastern Washington had its effect and the subsidy was raised. As the fall wore
away and winter approached speculation was rife as to whether the Northern
Pacific would reach Olympia by January 1st and thereby earn the subsidy;
December 1, seemed to have been lost sight of. On New Year's day, 1891, the
construction train reached the city limits on the east- out in the woods and in
railroad circles there was great rejoicing: the subsidy had been earned!
As might be imagined business was good in Olympia during the summer and
fall. A demand existed for business houses and residences and the people
hastened to supply the demand. New comers were seeking residences and rents
were high.
The increase of land office business in Western Washington had exceeded
the capacity of the Seattle office and a new district had been created embracing
the counties of Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Lewis and Chehalis and the

p94 c2

land office for the district was established at Olympia and opened in the fall.
In conjunction with the boom came a demand for a daily paper, to supply
which J. W. Robinson purchased the weekly Republican Partisan, changed the name
to Tribune and established a daily service, Major C. M. Barton of Tacoma became
managing editor.
This winter too was established a paper at Bucoda- the Bucoda Enterprise-
and in the spring the Tenino Herald put forth its first issue.
So far there had been but one bank at Olympia, the First National, but
this spring business circles were enlivened by rumors of others. Two opened for
business; the Capital National and the State Bank. The latter was managed by
the gentlemen who had invested in the Olympia Water Works.
This summer Gen. T. I. McKenny who owned the southwest corner of Main and
Fourth streets commenced the erection of a four story brick building, designed
for business purposes; it was completed in 1891. The upper stories were leased
by the state for offices until such time as a permanent capitol was erected.
This summer the mammoth manufacturing works at Bucoda were totally
destroyed by fire entailing a loss of $500,000. An effort was made by the
Olympia Board of Trade to have the company rebuild at Olympia but in the fall it
was determined to rebuild on the old site.
During the summer Prof. L. E. Follansbee who had formerly been principal
of the city schools and afterwards principal of the Collegiate Institute,
established a private school in the city denominated the Calathea College. It
continued one year, until June, 1891.
City schools opened in September, 1890, under favorable auspices. A
dearth of rooms still existed. The

p95 c1

High School found quarters in the rear rooms on the first floor of the Columbia
Hall building. The old Odd Fellows building on Washington street was also
leased for school purposes.
The decision in the Ostrander case had given a stimulus to street grading
and this continued during 1890. The grade of Fourth street was reestablished
and worked accordingly. Eastside, Union, Central and numerous shorter streets
were graded. To such an extent was the grading carried that the people
generally began to protest. Non residents were awarded contracts at high rates.
The bills were paid as during the previous year, by warrants on the general city
fund. It was generally understood that the abutting property owners were to pay
the cost of grading but payment was not forthcoming.
The legislature had passed a general incorporation act for the future
incorporation of cities and towns. Cities and towns already incorporated might
reorganize under its provisions. A desire existed in Olympia to get rid of the
existing city government and the proposition to reincorporate under the general
law received general favor.
At the election held November 6, it was determined by a vote of 352 to 19
to incorporate as a city of the third class. At the first election held
December 3, J. C. Horr was chosen mayor; Joseph Chilberg, clerk; Warren Riley,
health officer; C. M. Moore, assessor; John Miller Murphy and S. G. Ward,
councilmen from the First ward; G. L. Sickles and G. D. Shannon from the Second
ward and R. A. Ford and M. A. Root from the Third ward. Upon organization the
councilmen cast lots for the short terms. John Miller Murphy, G. D. Shannon and
M. A. Root drew the short terms. Shannon and Root resigned early in the year
and were succeeded by T. J. McBratney

p95 c2

and Robert [Muir?]
During the summer the Olympia iron Works was incorporated.
The general election coming on in November aroused more than usual
interest. In addition to a fall quota of county officers there was the location
of the Capitol to be voted on, in which Thurston county was interested. The
county commissioners had submitted to the voters a proposition to issue bonds to
the amount of $100,000 for the purpose of erecting a court house.
An additional feature of the election was the Australian ballot system
enacted by the first legislature.
The following nominations were made:-

REPUBLICAN.
For representatives: T. V. Eddy, U. L Collins.
For Sheriff: Wm. Billings.
For Auditor: J. P. Tweed.
For County Clerk: W. H. Roberts.
For Treasurer: C. B. Mann.
For County Attorney: C. H. Ayer.
For School Superintendent: B. W. Brintnall.
For Assessor: J. A. Smith.
For commissioners: I. C. Ellis, S. L. Ruddell, R. A. Brewer.
For Coroner: Dr. Armstrong.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Representatives: A. H. Chambers, B. F. Ruth.
For Sheriff: G. S. Prince.
For Auditor: Walter Crosby.
For County Clerk: L. M. Atkins.
For Treasurer: 0. R. Simenson.
For County Attorney: J. C. Kleber.
For School Superintendent: L. R. Byrne.
For Assessor: J. Conine.
For Commissioners: T. C. Vas Epps, B. B. Smith, J. K. Littlejohn.
For Coroner: Peter Cook.
For Wreckmaster: H. Hadlan.

The Republican nominations were not, as a whole, satisfactory to a

p96 c1

faction of the party and a bolt, led by the Tribune, was made. The result was
that Eddy, Billings, Brintnall, Ellis and Ruddell of the Republican ticket were
defeated. The court house bonds carried by a vote of 1116 for to 393 against.
As soon after the election as possible the commissioners employed W. A.
Ritchie, an architect of Seattle, to furnish plans and specifications for a
court house. The board also called for bids for bonds, to be received at the
February term, 1891.
Early in October the public was surprised over the suicide of Frank Smith,
a man well known throughout the county. His domestic life had not been the
happiest and meeting his wife riding home from town with her step father, Mr. J.
P. Crins, he opened fire on her with a Winchester he was carrying. He missed
Mrs. Smith but shot Mr. Crins through the arm. He then blew out his own brains.
During the year the town of Rochester had sprung up out in the Black River
valley. Gate city was also platted at the junction of the Black and Chehalis
rivers in the south western portion of the county. Both were in the midst of
splendid farming communities and settlers had been in there from away back in
the fifties. The magnificent forests of the Black Hills were contiguous.
During the latter part of the year grading was done on all of the
railroads that secured promised subsidies but the boom of early spring had
collapsed. The real estate market had become dull and several over enthusiastic
ones found themselves deeply in debt.
But the capital campaign had been won and the prevailing sentiment was one
of encouragement. The vote on the capital location was: Olympia, 37,413;
Ellensburg, 7,722; North Yakima, 6,276; scattering, 5; a total vote of 51,413.

p96 c2

During the year, through the enterprise of John Miller Murphy, the people
of Olympia were provided with a theater building that filled a long felt want in
the city and to theatrical companies.
In October Mayor Gowey received the federal appointment as consul to Japan
and resigned his office of mayor. Ex-Mayor A. H. Chambers was appointed to fill
the vacancy.
In July the Review was sold to B. M. Price of Iroquois, South Dakota, who
located in Olympia and continued the publication as a Republican paper. During
the political campaign he changed the name of the paper to the Capital and
established a daily, which continued until March, 1891.

1891.
Business during 1891 was dull in Thurston county. The people were
recovering their sober senses after the unnatural excitements of the boom of the
previous year. Those who found themselves deeply in debt were bending their
efforts to save as much as possible. A few contracts on wild cat investments
were thrown up but the larger number made loans or secured extensions to bridge
over the dull times. There appeared to be no material shrinkage in values as a
collapse of the boom. Property that was paid for was held at a stiff price.
At the February term of the county commissioners bids for the court house
bonds were opened and the bonds sold to the state land commission. An
investigation made by the attorney general disclosed that the affirmative vote
on the proposition to issue the bonds was not three-fifths of the entire vote of
the county, although it was more than a three-fifths vote cast on that subject,
a large portion of the voters refraining from voting. A new election was called
for March 24, which resulted favorably and the

p97 c1

bonds were sold to the state land commission.
More ground than the county owned in one tract was considered necessary
for modern court house purposes. The county owned the quarter block at the
northwest corner of Franklin and Sixth streets; also the quarter block at the
south east corner of Washington and Sixth streets. The quarter block adjoining
the latter on the south was owned by George Langridge and an exchange was made
for this by giving the former the old school property; a half block was thus
obtained for county purposes.
On March 27th John Rigby of Seattle was awarded the contract for building
the court house at $107,000, the building to be completed by March 1, 1892, he
to forfeit $20 for every day the building remained unfinished after that date.
W. A. Rogers was chosen by the commissioners as superintendent of the building
on the part of the county. The work had not progressed far when disputes arose
between Mr. Rogers and Rigby's foreman as to the quality of material to go into
the building. There was friction between the parties throughout the summer and
fall and finally culminated in an emphatic demand by the contractors for Mr.
Rogers' removal. This was acceded to by the county on condition that they
should remove their foreman. This matter being adjusted W. H. Owens of Olympia
was chosen superintendent and the work progressed.
The new city administration failed to give better satisfaction than the
old one. Street grading was extended into the unsettled suburbs and none of the
assessments of the previous years were collected. The returns of the assessor
showed boom valuations on property; taxes were high and there were numerous
complaints.
The Union Pacific and the Port

p97 c2

Townsend & Southern abandoned work entirely. The Northern Pacific pushed its
line to completion Its terminal grounds were located on the mud flats just west
of the city, a Bowers dredger being employed to make a fill above high tide and
hereon were put the freight and passenger depots. The first overland passenger
train to enter the city passed through Seventh street tunnel September 10 and
caused the memories of the older settlers to revert back to the disappointment
of 1872. For more than a generation the pioneers of Olympia had been drifting
with the tide of business affairs, buoyed up by the ever receding hope that at
no distant day they would be welcoming the arrival of an overland passenger
train from Chicago. The hope that had its origin in the expedition of General
Isaac I. Stevens in 1853, had now ended in fruition. What an eventful period of
years! The major part of those who welcomed the arrival of the train were new
comers, many of them unborn when the first idea of a transcontinental road to
Puget Sound was uppermost in the minds of those who instituted our territorial
government.
But on this occasion, where were the pioneers? Where was Edmund
Sylvester, Michael T. Simmons, Elwood Evans. W. N. Ayers, J. W. Wiley, T. F.
McElroy, Capt. Percival, C. H. Hale, Marshal Blinn and a hundred others whose
deeds of heroism and noble traits of character had made the present festivities
possible? Some had become discouraged struggling with hope and had moved away.
Others had worn out their lives to build up a civilization at the head of Puget
Sound and, one by one, had dropped from among the living. Several others were
still here, some at the front of any movement tending to advance Thurston
county's

p98 c1

material prosperity. Others now, as they ever had been, were "drifting with the
tide" and at this particular moment might have been in a down town saloon
drinking to the health of the Northern Pacific.
Although business was dull during the year, improvements were carried on
in both the city and country. Street grading was carried to the same extreme as
the previous year; as many or more complaints, jealousies and scandals. A
number of costly private residences were erected. In the country as during the
previous year, tracts of land were cleared and fruit trees planted. The
desirability of the Puget Sound prune was making itself felt in the eastern
markets and hundreds of acres were planted to this fruit. The adaptability of
the county to small fruits was well known and property owners were turning their
attention to this industry.
Early in the spring two railway franchises were granted for roads on the
westside: one to the Westside Railway Company, the other to W. L. Russel. Both
looked to furnishing of street railway accommodations to the westside. Work on
the former was commenced and a track laid across Marshville bridge.
A new bridge 80 feet wide was built this year by the city.
During the year others of the pioneers passed to their long rest. Captain
Percival had been in ill health for some years; likewise Robert G. Stuart and
Judge J. G. Sparks; all succumbed to the ravages of old age, honored and
respected.
The events of the year closed with a change in the city government. At
the annual election R. G. O'Brien was chosen mayor; Joseph Chilberg, treasurer;
Dr. Wyman, health officer; R. F. Whitham, assessor; Chas. A. Talcott councilman
from the First ward; C. H. Springer, from the Second ward, T.

p98 c2

H. Phipps from the Third ward and T. J. McBratney councilman at large, the last
position having been created by the legislature.
During the year a branch of the Keeley Institute of Dwight, Illinois, was
opened at Olympia for the cure of the drink and opium habits and many were its
patients. Some of Olympia's leading citizens availed themselves of its
advantages. With some the cure appears permanent; others have already fallen
back to their former habits.
The Port Townsend and Southern Railway had widened the Tenino road to
standard guage and extended its track to deep water on the west side. The depot
had been removed from the little cove to just north of the bridge. At Tenino
the junction with the Northern Pacific was made half a mile from the town.
In June the city was thrown into consternation and gossips were all agog
by the return of Moses H. Scott. In 1884 he suddenly disappeared, no one knew
whither. In course of time he was reported dead. He left considerable property
and a relative secure letters of administration. His estate regularly passed
through the machinery of the probate court and passed to the possession of
innocent purchaser. Mr. Scott now returned and claimed the property. One suit
for possession was instituted and decided in the superior court adversely to
Scott, the court taking the position that Mr. Scott had voluntarily absented
himself a length of time sufficient to raise the presumption of death; that the
present owners of the property had made valuable improvements; that while this
view might seem a hardship to Scott it was a greater hardship to those who had
built homes on the property. The case was taken to the supreme court where in
November of the following year, the decision of

p99 c1

the superior court was affirmed. Scott then appealed to the federal court which
decided in his favor,
By the constitution this county was with the counties of Lewis, Chehalis
and Mason in constituting a judicial district and entitled to one superior court
judge. At the legislative session of 1891 the bar of Olympia was successful in
having Thurston county created a judicial district. J. W. Robinson of Olympia
was appointed by the governor as judge until the general election in 1892.

1892.
Like that of the year previous the local history of 1892 is soon written.
It witnessed considerable building improvement and a liberal share of street
improvements. Work on the court house was continued and completed about October
1st. The $20 per day forfeit after March 1 was not insisted upon by the
commissioners, that body acting on the advice of the architect. It is a grand
and imposing structure.
Early in the year the proposition to erect a separate High School building
in the city was advocated and bonds voted and sold, but before they were
delivered the rapid growth in the increase of taxes was becoming apparent and a
closer study of the situation revealed the lack of a need for the building. A
defective notice calling the bond election was discovered and the board of
directors refused to so word the bonds that the defect would be cured and the
purchasers declined to receive them.
The proposed site for the High School building was on Union street between
Washington and Franklin. The district had come into possession of the south
east quarter of the block through an exchange of the corresponding quarter of
the block due west. In looking into the title to the property the directors
found it to be in the

p99 c2

city and application was made to the council for a transfer. It was readily
quitclaimed to the district and the $354.17 so long contended for by the city
and promised by the district was never paid. Nor is there any record that the
district paid the city the rent so often demanded.
The stringency in the money market had its effect in the west. Laboring
men who flocked to Olympia during the boom of 1890 began moving away. Business
houses and residences became vacant.
For some time it had been the practice of the banks to refuse the city
warrants at their face value, discounting them five or ten per cent. In the
spring City Treasurer Joseph Chilberg received a proposition from a Seattle bank
to cash Olympia city warrants at par if it (the Seattle bank) could be the
depository of the funds belonging to the Olympia city treasury. Mr. Chilberg
accepted the proposition. But it happened that some of his bondsmen were
stockholders in the local banks who threatened to with draw from his official
bond if he removed the city money from Olympia. He was, thus compelled to
decline the Seattle proposition. The Seattle bank then offered to accept
Olympia city warrants at a discount of one per cent, which had the effect of
bringing them up to par at home.
The assessments of the previous year in both the city and county were
based on the boom values then existing. As a result taxes were high. The
assessors sought to remedy matters for 1892 by making a lower assessment. In
the city this did not meet the approval of the council who made a raise of most
of the assessments. This was violently opposed by many heavy taxpayers, who
threatened to contest its legality in the courts, but the excitement quieted and
no litigation resulted.

p100 c1

During the year the city council established a system of sewers the need
of which had been persistently dwelt upon. The sum of $16,000 had been set
aside from a loan of $155.000 made the year previous to be used for this
purpose. A system prepared by one Camp, a stranger, but claiming to be a
sanitary engineer, was adopted by the council and his plans purchased at a cost
of $1500. Other engineers questioned the practicability of the system. In the
summer of 1892 another engineer, Miller, submitted a plan of sewerage that
seemed more adapted to the topography of Olympia and was adopted. Work
commenced in the latter part of the summer and continued until the $1500 was
exhausted, about December 1.
Political excitement was uppermost in men's minds during the entire year.
Early in the winter missionaries of a political organization that had sprung up
in the east canvassed the county, organizing People's Party clubs. It was the
first campaign wherein the residents of the state had a voice in the election of
presidential electors. Office holders and office seekers were on the qui vive.
The county campaign commenced early and the following tickets were placed in
nomination. The Prohibition party nominated a legislative ticket but the
nominees declined to run. A feature of the campaign was that the Weekly Capital
advocated the cause of the People's Party:

REPUBLICAN.
For Senator: J. C. Horr.
For Representatives: T. F. Mentzer, A. S. McKenzie.
For Judge. M. J. Gordon.
For Sheriff: J. S. Dobbins.
For Auditor: C. M. Moore.
For County Clerk: W. H. Roberts.
For Treasurer: Geo. Gelbach.
For Attorney: M. A. Root.
For Assessor: Samuel James.

p100 c2

For School Superintendent: R. A. Ford.
For County Commissioners: Thos. Prather, G. W. Osborne, Jas. McD. Israel.
For Surveyor: L. P. Ouellette.
For Coroner: A. Hartsuck.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Senator: A. H. Chambers.
For Representatives: D. E. Baily, C. C. Case.
For Judge: T. N. Allen.
For Sheriff: G. S. Prince.
For Auditor. Alex. Drysdale.
For County Clerk: R. A. Graham.
For Treasurer: A. D. Glover.
For Attorney: J. P. Moore.
For Assessor: J. L. Nye.
For School Superintendent: L. R. Byrne.
For County Commissioners: Milton Giles, Geo. Langridge, Geo. C. Clark.
For Surveyor: Theo. Young.
For Coroner. Dr. Oliver.
For Wreckmaster: C. Ethridge.

PEOPLE'S PARTY.
For Senator: T. J. Miller.
For Representatives: J. R. Elswick, Oscar Swanson.
For Judge: B. Millett.
For Sheriff: Wm. Lee.
For Auditor: B. M. Price.
For County Clerk. J. F. Brown.
For Treasurer: S. E. Barr.
For Attorney: Daniel Gaby.
For Assessor: Chas. Palmer.
For School Superintendent: Amy Case.
For County Commissioners: J. M. Swan, A. Webster, S. M. Bennet.
For Surveyor: F. J. Ruttledge.
For Coroner: R. Rawson.
For Wreckmaster: Chas. E. Brown.

The entire Republican ticket was elected with the exception of J. S.
Dobbins and R. A. Ford. Mr. Prince was reelected sheriff and Miss Amy Case
school superintendent.
No sooner was the general election over than the people in the city began

p101 c1

preparing for the municipal election which took place December 3d.
Dissatisfaction with the present administration had suggested the
feasibility of a partisan contest. The Democrats inaugurated the movement by
calling a party convention and nominating a city ticket with C. J. Lord as
candidate for mayor. Republican and Non-partisan conventions were also called.
The former nominated Mayor O'Brien for re-election, the latter placed in
nomination for Mayor Judge J. W. Robinson. Though short the campaign was
exciting. Mr. Lord was cashier of the Capital National Bank and his candidacy
was not looked upon with favor by the masses, particularly the laboring classes
many of whom had been compelled to discount their city warrants during a portion
of the year. During the fall Mayor O'Brien had in the name of the city filed
upon a large area of tide flats, for the purpose of securing them from the state
and managing them to aid manufacturing enterprises. The constitutional right of
the city to do this entered largely into the campaign.
The following persons were elected: Mayor, J. W. Robinson; Councilman at
large, T. H. Phipps; Assessor, B. M. Price: Treasurer, J. S. Dobbins; Health
Officer, Wm. A. Newell; Councilmen: 1st ward John Byrne; 3d ward, R. B.
McCausland: 4th ward, J. Ballweg; 5th ward, Jos. Lammon; 6th ward C. P. Giles.
After organization the council elected the following: City clerk, R. A. Ford;
City marshal, B. F. Snyder; Street commissioner, W. F. Tucker; City engineer, D.
S. B. Henry; Chief of fire department, S. L. McClellan; City attorney, 0. V.
Linn; Police Justice, J. C. Rathbun.
This fall the new court house was completed and occupied by the different
county officers. Its total cost was $107,000 exclusive of furniture.

p101 c2

The year closed with business interests somewhat despondent over the
financial depression. Work on the Union Pacific and Port Townsend and Southern
railroad grades had been abandoned, although the latter road had changed its
track from a narrow to a standard guage and located its Tenino depot half a mile
west of the town. Labor was unemployed and taxes were high. Property owners
who imagined themselves wealthy a year or two before suspected there must have
been some mistake about it.
During the year the state bank closed its doors, the decline in business
being more perceptibly felt by it than by the national banks.

1893.
The year 1893 opened in Olympia with the regular biennial session of the
state legislature. It is only of local historical importance as, taken in
connection with the change of state administration, it affects social relations
in Olympia and business interests in certain lines.
The interests of Thurston county at this session centered in an
appropriation for a new state capitol. An opposition to a $2,000,000
appropriation developed but it only served to increase the energy of Olympians.
The final hours of the session witnessed the passage of an appropriation of
$1,000,000 and the anxiety of Olympia was relieved only to again center in the
veto power of the governor. The bill however received the executive approval.
The representatives of Thurston county in both houses worked assiduously for the
bill.
During the, winter the Olympian was sold by the administrator of the Boyd
estate to a joint stock company and Prof. J. O'B. Scobey became managing editor.
About March lst, it bought the Tribune property and the publication of the
latter was suspended

p102 c1

The new publication assumed the title of the Olympian-Tribune.
Under the revenue law of 1891 a large number of suits had been instituted
to collect delinquent taxes and in many cases summons had been published in the
Tribune. For this year the Tribune had the contract to do the county printing.
The new revenue law- that of 1893- provided for the abandonment of these suits.
In many of them defenses had been made and upon their dismissal the defendants
claimed the statutory attorney's fee- $10- as a part of their costs. The
Superior court allowed $5 in each case, which aggregated about $3,000 against
Thurston county for attorney's fees alone. On an appeal to the supreme court
the judgment was reversed. Then arose the question of publication fees. J. W.
Robinson, proprietor of the Tribune at the time the tax summonses were published
made the charge against the county at the usual rate for legal advertising. The
county commissioners took the position that the publication of these notices was
provided for by the contract for county printing. Mr. Robinson brought suit
against the county but it never came to trial.
The new city administration took up in earnest the matter of securing
railroad terminal facilities for manufacturing plants and various projects were
proposed. All had their objections. As an outcome the city council proposed to
lay a track on Water street connecting with the Northern Pacific track near its
depot and to do this under its authority to improve streets. It was opposed by
some of the more prominent taxpayers and the usual restraining order was issued
by the court. Before the matter was finally determined a new city
administration came in and the project was abandoned.
During the year bonds of the

p102 c2

school district to the amount of $15,000 were sold for the purpose of erecting a
school building on the west side of the bay.
During the previous year the board of school directors questioned the
right of the county treasurer in 1892 to pay himself a commission on the $59,000
of school bonds sold, and demanded that he return to the district treasury the
sum of $1169 retained by him. He insisted that he was entitled to the
commission. A suit to recover the amount was directed by the school board but
the matter was compromised this fall by the treasurer paying a small portion of
the amount claimed by the district.
On August 2 occurred a tragedy at Tenino that had been anticipated in the
minds of some for several years. George W. Manville and J. S. McCabe were
neighbors and between whom a personal feud had existed. On that day Mr.
Manville was in his meadow with his gun when he noticed that McCabe and his
hired man, Thos. Conboy, were approaching toward him, the former carrying a gun.
He observed McCabe lowering his gun and take position to aim at him, when be
himself fired at McCabe, killing him. Conboy denied that McCabe lowered his
gun. Manville was convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to
fourteen years in the penitentiary. Public sentiment in the neighborhood was
pretty well divided upon the question of his guilt. Pending Manville's appeal
he made a complaint to the county attorney against Conboy for perjury and at the
request of that officer J. R. Mitchell, Esq., was appointed to investigate the
charge. Mr. Mitchell interviewed the neighbors and reported that probably
sufficient evidence could not be produced to convict Conboy of the offense
charged. Subsequently, however, in February, 1894, Manville regularly

p103 c1

made a complaint before a justice of the peace, charging Conboy with perjury.
At the preliminary examination the county attorney declined to appear as
prosecutor, claiming that he was disqualified by virtue of Conboy being one of
the state's witnesses at the trial of Manville. As a result of the examination
Conboy was held for trial, but the action was dismissed in the superior court on
motion of B. Millett, Esq., who had been appointed special prosecutor in the
case. More or less excitement and controversy grew out of both the Manville and
Conboy cases and several officials were severely criticized as the costs
aggregated several thousand dollars, those of the Conboy case alone amounting to
$350.
For a year or more Hon. W. 0. Bush who took the premium on wheat at the
Philadelphia Centennial of 1876, had been preparing an exhibit for the World's
Fair of 1893 in Chicago. It was a creditable collection of farm products and
cost him about $4000 to prepare. It was felt that the exhibit should be sent to
Chicago. Terms were made with Mr. Bush by the state World's Fair Commission
paying $1500, the county $800, and the city $500, he to take the exhibit to
Chicago and remain with it until the Fair closed.
During the year the county commissioners were engaged in improving roads
and constructing bridges. Bridges were built across the Skookumchuck, Chehalis
and Nisqually rivers; also one across Mud Bay.
It was dawning on the minds of the taxpayers that the cost of maintaining
the poor was increasing to an alarming extent and the project of buying a farm
on which this class of unfortunates could be supported was proposed. As might
be supposed numerous were the eligible sites offered. The Rutledge farm at
Little Rock was finally purchased for $10,000 and a

p103 c2

superintendent employed to manage it.
This fall the city council designed an improvement on the public Square,
transforming it from a country meadow to a city Plaza.
During the year two pioneers passed away, Judge Francis Henry and Nathan
Pattison.
The year closed with the regular municipal election. C. B. Mann was
elected mayor; Wm. Gilmore, councilman at large; Mitchell Harris from the First
ward; R. B. McCausland from the Third and Joseph Lammon from the Fifth; Robert
Graham, clerk; B. F. Snyder, marshal; J. P. Moore, city attorney, J. S. Dobbins,
city treasurer, and W. F. Tucker, street commissioner. The Populist party
nominated an opposition ticket but none of its candidates were elected.

1894.
The year 1894 will be a memorable one in the history of the county not so
much on account of what was accomplished of truly historic importance as being
characterized by the absence of important data. It was a year of business
inactivity. The inaction that followed the collapse of the Western Washington
boom was increased by the financial panic that hung like an incubus on the
business prosperity of the nation. Indeed, were it not for the latter the
former would have been temporary and insignificant. It was a year of
stagnations; the agricultural and manufacturing interests both languished.
Logging operations were suspended and saw mills operated at irregular intervals.
Public finances were embarrassed during the year. County, city and school
district warrants were begging for buyers. Owing to the business depression
property owners were unable to pay their taxes, and, though this in part was
calculated upon by the county commissioners, the city council and the various
boards of school directors,

p104 c1

the delinquent tax list far exceeded the calculations. As a result warrants on
the different treasuries were issued in excess of those paid, leaving evidences
of indebtedness in excess of that allowed by law. How to remedy matters,
preserve the public credit and maintain a market price for warrants was the
burning question of the year. Several conferences of business men and officials
were held and various propositions advanced, all tending to a reform of existing
laws. Economy was a insisted upon. Salaries of public servants were lowered,
and the school year shortened to six months.
To the great satisfaction of the citizens of the county, work on the new
capitol was inaugurated this summer by the awarding of a contract to build the
foundation and by the contract, stone from the quarry at Tenino was to be used.
A new ledge of stone had been discovered on land owned by Geo. Huggins about
midway between Olympia and Tenino and claimed by experts to be of a superior
quality. It was the intention of the capitol commission to have this stone used
in the capitol foundation but the prospect of a legal controversy between the
owners of the quarry caused the selection of the Tenino stone.
Hard times and a demand for retrenchment in public expenditures turned the
popular attention to politics early in the summer. Four tickets were placed
before the voters:

REPUBLICAN.
For Representatives: S. W. Fenton, J. O'B. Scobey.
For Sheriff: George Gaston.
For Auditor: George S. Hopkins.
For Treasurer: George Gelbach.
For County Attorney: M. A. Root.
For Clerk: C. V. Leach.
For School Superintendent: T. N. Henry.
For Surveyor: Geo. Stocking.

p104 c2

For Surveyor: A. S. Ruth.
For Assessor: Samuel James.
For Coroner. A. Hartsock.
For Wreckmaster: S. P. Wiman.
For Commissioners: G. W. Osborne, F. A. Whalen.

DEMOCRATIC.
For Representatives: W. A. Newell, A. E. Young.
For Sheriff: J. W. Chambers.
For Auditor: Geo. B. Mason.
For Treasurer: J. D. Bolander.
For County Attorney: J. R. Mitchell.
For Clerk: R. A. Graham.
For School Superintendent: Mrs. P. C. Hale.
For Surveyor: J. A. McFadden.
For Assessor: Dr. Manier.
For Coroner: Jacob Stampfler.
For Wreckmaster: C. Ethridge.
For Commissioners: Geo. Langridge, Henry Mize.

PEOPLE'S PARTY.
For Representatives: M. L. Adams, T. J. Miller.
For Sheriff: J. C. Conine.
For Auditor: Bige Eddy.
For Treasurer: J. M. Swan.
For County Attorney: -----
For Clerk: E. D. Peasley.
For School Superintendent: Fannie M. Austin.
For Surveyor: Frank Rutledge.
For Assessor: H. C. Ellis.
For Coroner: E. W. Shelton.
For Wreckmaster: Capt. Monroe.
For Commissioners: W. L. Abbott, J. S. French.

PROHIBITIONIST.
For Representatives: R. H. Massey, Millard Lemon.
For Sheriff: H. Dennis.
For Auditor: David Sypher.
For Treasurer: E. B. Raymond.
For County Attorney: J. C. Hurspool.
For Clerk: David Mitchell.
For School Superintendent. Amy Case.

p105 c1

For Commissioners: Alex Henry, H. E. Davis.

In addition to these tickets Wm. Billings was an independent candidate for
sheriff and W. A. Patterson for county attorney.
The entire Republican ticket was elected.
At the election Judge M. J. Gordon of the superior court for this county
was elected a judge of the supreme court, which would necessitate his vacating
his office before January 14, 1895, and local attorneys were agog as to his
successor, who would be appointed by the governor. Several names were urged
upon the governor but he reserved the appointment until the following March when
he treated the county to a surprise by the appointment of Hon. T. M. Reed, Jr.
On August 1, was established the Palladium by J. C. Rathbun, a weekly
newspaper that supported the Republican ticket and inaugurated the first
systematic effort at publishing a history of the county from its earliest
settlement.
An improvement to the city of no little value was made in connection with
the work of the government in improving the harbor. By an arrangement with
owners of lots on the mud flats the dredgings were deposited on lots adjoining
the harbor, the property owners building the bulkheads. The dredging company
was willing to deposit the dirt under Fourth street bridge if the city would
build the bulkheads to retain it. To do this involved several thousand dollars
of expense and no money was in the city treasury. The city's credit was ex-
exhausted and her scrip could not be sold. But it was felt that the importance
of the improvement and the small cost of making it demanded that it be made.
The burning question was to find a market for the warrants sufficient to procure
the workmen

p105 c2

food and clothes. The difficulty was solved by the business men coming to the
city's relief and accepting the warrants in payment of goods.
The advent early in the summer of a subordinate organization of the
American Protective Association, known as the A. P. A., caused a little gossip
among politicians. It was generally known to be an anti-Catholic organization
and the personnel of its membership was a matter of curiosity. Lists of
supposed members were prepared by opponents of the organization with no avowed
purpose but to furnish food for gossips.
During the fall, terms were made with the county commissioners by which
part of the basement of the court house was leased to the government for a post
office, at an annual rental of $700.
At the October session of the commissioners the county and city taxes on
the Hotel Olympia were remitted. Since the building was erected in 1890, it had
not been a paying investment and this act of the commissioners, though somewhat
criticized by the people, was urged as a proper recognition of a public
enterprise.
At the municipal election in December little interest was manifest. C. B.
Mann was reelected mayor; George Scofield was elected councilman at large; John
Byrne from the Second ward; J. H. Meays from the Fourth ward and George B. Lane
from the Sixth ward; R. A. Graham, clerk; Fred Northup, marshal; A. J. Falknor,
attorney; J. S. Dobbins, treasurer; Dr. Newcombe, health officer.
This fall Talcott Brothers undertook the experiment of boring for artesian
water and to the general surprise flowing water was reached at a depth of only
125 feet. Other wells were at once sunk and in no case was there a failure.

p106 c1

1895.
The important question of 1895 related to finances. For a few years past
the county, city and many school districts had been issuing warrants in excess
of their incomes and the problem was to so change business methods that matters
could soon be reduced to a cash basis. In the city it was determined to so cut
expenses that one third of the revenue be used for current expenses and two
thirds be applied on indebtedness. This policy was approved by the warrant
holders, and in harmony therewith employees were discharged, salaries cut and
luxuries dispensed with. By this policy about $1000 per month was applied on
indebtedness. The county, too, attempted to get on a cash basis by creating an
incidental fund to be supplied with cash from the general fund. In June the
bondsmen of the treasurer warned that officer to not transfer any more money to
the so called incidental fund on the ground that the law did not authorize such
a fund. Parties who had been

p106 c2

promised payments from that fund then instituted mandamus proceedings to compel
such a transfer and to compel the auditor to draw warrants in their favor. The
case was decided against them in the superior court, whereupon they appealed to
the supreme court. For the better adjustment of school district finances the
board of directors of the district called an election to validate the
outstanding warrants and to provide a temporary issue for the purpose of
carrying on a six months school for the ensuing school year. Both propositions
were carried by the necessary three fifths vote.
During the summer the county Commissioners contracted for an artesian well
to supply the court house. The water bill for the county amounted to $500 per
year. The cost of an artesian well, with a tank, pipes, etc., was estimated at
about $400. A small flow of water was obtained at a depth of 140 feet,
sufficient, it is thought for court house purposes.

p107 c1

CHURCHES.
It is with great difficulty that reliable data is secured for a history of
the churches of the county. If a record was kept of the pioneer proceedings in
the erection of churches it has not been preserved. The historian can well wish
it were otherwise as some record should be made of the noble gratuitous efforts
of those who toiled, mid sunshine and rain, to lay the foundations for a moral,
Christian growth.

METHODIST.
The pioneer movement on the line of church organization was made in 1852
by the members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1856 the present church
edifice was erected on the corner of Fourth and Adams streets. Rev. J. F.
Devore, a pioneer of wonderful physique, with the courage of his convictions,
sagacious and energetic, was foremost in the enterprise. Mr. and Mrs. D. R.
Bigelow of this city, and Mrs. Wright, of Independence, were among the first
members and the former are still members of this society. The old site was
exchanged for two lots on the northeast corner of Fifth and Adams streets in
1890. The building was then moved to the southwest corner of these streets on
the property of C. B. Mann until 1894 when it was again moved to the north side
of Fifth street.

ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Episcopal church has been represented in Olympia since 1845, the year
when Bishop Scott was consecrated missionary bishop of Oregon and Washington,
which at that time included Idaho and Montana. In that year the church service
was held once a month in a school house, by the Rev. Dr. John McCarty, United
States

p107 c2

chaplain from Fort Steilacoom. In 1860 the Rev. D. E. Willis was missionary in
Olympia, but resigned in 1861. During 1862 a monthly service was held by the
Rev. Daniel Kendig, chaplain from Fort Steilacoom, and afterwards lay service
was conducted regularly in the Masonic hall by Major Goldsborough. In April,
1864, St. John's Church was incorporated, with Wm. Pickering, Richard Lane and
S. W. Percival, trustees. The Rev. P. E. Hyland was rector of the new parish;
and its first wardens and vestry were: Samuel W. Percival, senior warden;
William Pickering, junior warden; James R. Wood, R. Frost, Frank Henry, Richard
Lane, Benjamin Harned and John L. Head, vestrymen. On Sept. 3, 1865, St. Johns
Church, corner of Main and Seventh streets, was consecrated by Bishop Scott. In
1871 Mr. Hyland resigned the bishopric of the parish, and for a few months the
Rev. L. H. Wells had charge over it. The Rev. Thomas E. Dickey was rector one
year, 1872-73, and the Rev. Chas. L. Fischer in 1875-76. Lay service was held
by Gov. E. P. Ferry until 1878, when the Rev. Alfred M. Able became rector. The
present parsonage was built in 1879 through the efforts of the ladies' sewing
society. After Mr. Able who was obliged to resign and give up parish work in
1881 on account of poor health, the rectors of the church have been the Rev.
Earnest Edward Wood during 1882, the Rev. R. E. Nevins, D. D., 1883-86 (the Rev.
Wm. Gill supplying for a time in 1887), and the Rev. H. H. Buck from 1888 to
1891 when Rev. R. S. Chase became pastor.
The foundations of the present church building were laid in the fall

p108 c1

of 1888, and the basement occupied for services Oct. 20, 1889. The building
remained unfinished just a year, when work was resumed and completed in 1891.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1854 by Rev. Geo. P. Whitworth, D. D., now of
Seattle. He preached for a period of six years. He was succeeded by Rev. R. J.
Evans, who continued in charge of the work until his death in 1864. The present
church building corner of 6th and Franklin streets, was erected during his
pastorate. It was dedicated in 1860. It stands as a monument of the early days
of Olympia. It is a frame structure, nicely seated and furnished, with a
seating capacity of 350. For thirty five years its bell has called the people
to worship. During these years the church has enjoyed almost continuous
prosperity. Mr. Evans was succeeded by Rev. Mr. elder, who did good service as
a pastor until 1870 when Rev. J. R. Thompson, D. D., began his pastorate. Dr.
Thompson continued for a period of thirteen years, and did much for the mission
work in Thurston county and Vicinity. In 1884 Rev. W. B. See, D. D., became
pastor, and served the church as such until 1889. In November, 1890, the
present pastor, Rev. T. J. Lamont, took charge of the work. This church has a
flourishing Sunday school and Y. P. S. C. E.
The value of the present property, including the manse, is about $15,000.

FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
The initiative steps for organizing the Unitarian church in Olympia, were
taken in 1870 by Mr. E. L. Smith and Rev. L. T. Eliott of Portland. They
invited Rev. Jno. C. Kimball from one of the New England States to come to
Olympia in the interests of liberal Christianity. Mr. Kimball and his wife came
in 1871 and it was not

p108 c2

long until a church was organized, a Sunday school established and a ladies' aid
society inaugurated. The only records now attainable are those of the ladies'
society and the Sunday school. The church records proper were lost in the fire
that destroyed the church records in 1882.
Mr. Kimball remained in charge of the society about a year when he took
charge Of a Unitarian society at Hartford, Conn. After an interim of about four
years, Rev. David N. Utter, formerly of the Campbellite Christian church,
accepted a call to the Unitarian church in Olympia.
During the administration of Mr. and Mrs. Utter, the society built a plain
but artistic, cozy and convenient church on the lot near the Northern Pacific
crossing on Main street. Prior to the erection of the church, the society had
met since its inception in Tacoma Hall over the Good Templars' reading room,
corner of Fourth and Columbia streets. Mr. Utter remained about five years.
Not long after his departure the new church caught fire and burned to the
ground. The little band of Unitarians with no regular minister and no church
home, dwindled away. In 1886 Rev. Geo. H. Green of Tacoma came and held regular
services for a few months and reorganized the forces. In 1890 Rev. Napoleon
Hoagland of, Kansas accepted the pastorate. A site was purchased on the corner
of Franklin and Ninth and in 1891 erected a church building. The society also
owns a few tenement houses. Mr. Hoagland continued his work in behalf of the
society until 1893 when he resigned the pastorate since which time the society
has had no regular pastor.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
In 1871 the American Congregational Union bought the old Catholic property
on Main street- a building out of repair and used as a carpenter shop.

p109 c1

In 1873 the Union wrote to the Congregationalists of Olympia that unless steps
were taken to organize into a church the property would be sold for the cause
elswhere. Accordingly in April of that year a council of six congregational
ministers was held in the Presbyterian church and a church organization
completed with fifteen members. Services were held in Masonic hall building and
steps taken to erect a building of their own. This was completed and dedicated
in September, 1874. For . several years the membership grew but slowly. Its
pastors have been Rev. C. A. Huntington, G. W. Skinner, D. Thomas, Jas.
Campbell, L. J. Garver J. R. Chaplin, C. L. Diven.

BAPTIST CHURCH.
For a score of years the Baptists of Olympia had been without a church
organization. Although the matter was frequently talked over among the members
it was not until March, 1872, that the men and women of that faith organized and
filed their articles of incorporation. It then had fourteen members and
meetings were held in the reading room of the Good Templars building. In 1874 a
lot was bought on the corner of Adams and Eighth streets and a building erected.
Rev. Joseph Castro was the first pastor who was succeeded by Judge Roger S.
Green. J. P. Ludlow also served as a pastor of the church. In 1890 dissensions
arose in the society which resulted in the organization of the Temple Baptist
church and Rev. J. C. Douglas called as pastor. A lot was bought on Ninth
street between Main and Washington and a building erected. The financial
depression that soon followed increased the burden of maintaining the
organization and in 1893 it disorganized.

CATHOLIC.
The first effort at a Catholic organization was when the Oblate
Missionaries

p109 c2

under Father Pascal Ricard located the Mission in 1848 on the east side of the
bay about a mile north of the Smith claim, now Olympia. Late in the fifties
they abandoned the Mission and located on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. In
186- Edmund Sylvester donated to the Catholics two blocks of ground for school
and church purposes and the building now occupied by the Congregationalists was
erected and used for a school and church. In 1871 it was sold to the
Congregational society and in 1880 the Giddings property bought for a school,
and Providence Academy built. A church building was erected on the block west
of Columbia street and is still used for religious services.
In this connection might be mentioned St. Peters Hospital which, though
not a church organization, is under the management of Catholics. It had its
origin in an abiding sentiment among some of the leading citizens of Olympia
that an institution of the kind was needed. Workmen in logging camps contiguous
to the city in cases of sickness or accidents, were required to go to Tacoma or
Seattle for proper medical treatment. For the purpose of securing conveniences
for their care and comfort and in harmony with a Catholic policy, the Sisters of
Charity at Vancouver established the St. Peter's Hospital, the city donating a
block of ground. Sister Benedict Superioress, was here and commenced caring for
the patients on June 1, 1887, although it was the following September when the
present building was ready for occupancy. In 1889 the capacity of the building
was doubled.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The first attempt at organizing a society of this denomination in the
county was in 1891, although for a short time prior thereto Rev. J. S. McCallum
of Seattle had preached to

p110 c1

the people of that faith in the city. In the spring of the year mentioned Mr.
McCallum located permanently in the city and at once engaged actively in
perfecting an organization. A lot was leased on the northwest corner of Adams
and Union streets and in the fall a church building and a parsonage were
erected. The society has grown in numerical strength and now numbers about two
hundred members. In the spring of 1895 a lot was bought of H. B. McElroy on the
northwest corner of Franklin and Eighth streets and it is the purpose to build
thereon the coming year.

THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.
The preliminary work of organizing this society was begun in 1892. The
next year Rev. J. W. Welsch was secured as pastor and services were held in a
vacant store room in the Hale block. In 1894 Mr. Welsch left the charge and was
succeeded by Rev. Mr. Hays. In 1894 the society bought of Geo. A. Barnes the
corner of Fourth

p110 c2

and Jefferson streets and during the present year (1895) are building a
commodious church building.

AT TUMWATER.
The first effort at building a church at Tumwater was made in the winter
of 1871. It was built by popular subscription, the intention being to make it a
Union church, and completed during the summer. Rev. J. F. Devore, the presiding
elder for the Methodist Episcopal church for this district, James Biles and
Nelson Barnes were the moving spirits. Besides the Methodist, the
Presbyterians, Unitarians and Episcopalians held services in the building. From
the fact the Methodists exceeded the others in numbers, by common consent, they
took charge of the building and when the deed to the property was made by Nelson
Barnes it was made to them and has since been considered a Methodist church,
although preachers of other denominations frequently use it for holding
services.

NOTE.- A mention of the churches at Bucoda and Tenino is made in the history of
those towns.

p111 c1

FRATERNITIES.

MASONIC.
The pioneer movement toward a secret fraternal organization north of the
Columbia river was made on December 11, 1852 when T. F. McElroy, J. W. Wiley, M.
T. Simmons, N. Delin, Smith Hayes, F. A. Clark and C. H. Hale met to organize a
Masonic Lodge under a dispensation granted by the Grand Master of Oregon.
Edmund Sylvester had donated two lots on Main and Eighth streets for a Masonic
building. The lodge worked under a dispensation until the following July when
it obtained a charter and became known as Olympia Lodge No. 5, of Oregon. When
the Grand Lodge of Washington was organized in 1858, it became No. 1 of
Washington. Early in 1854 steps were taken to build a Masonic Hall and on June
24 the corner stone was laid with the usual ceremonies of the craft. The
building was so far completed by December that the second territorial
legislature convened there.
In 1854 a lodge was organized at Steilacoom. Col. A. B. Moses, who was
murdered by the Indians, was a member of Steilacoom lodge and his widow asked
his lodge to bury him according to the rites of the fraternity and upon being
refused, communicated with the lodge at Olympia which gave the body of Col.
Moses a Masonic burial. The strange conduct of the Steilacoom lodge was due to
the sympathy the Hudson's Bay people at that place had with the Indians.
In 1857 was organized a lodge at Grand Mound. Though there were several
of the craft residing in the vicinity it was with difficulty that the lodge was
kept up. In 1867 it received

p111 c2

permission of the Grand Lodge to hold its meetings in Tumwater but even this was
of little benefit in arousing interest and the next year it surrendered its
charter to the grand lodge.
In May 1858 steps were taken to organize a grand lodge, which was
consummated the following December by the election of T. F. McElroy, grand
master and T. M. Reed, grand secretary. The first session of the grand lodge
was held in the Masonic hall in Olympia.
On April 16, 1859 the Masonic lodge laid off Masonic cemetery two miles
south of the village.
A memento of historic importance connected with Olympia Lodge No. 1, is
the Tylers sword. It was presented to the lodge by James Tilton, then surveyor
general of the territory and a soldier of the Mexican war accompanied by the
following:
"On New Years eve, December 31, 1647, Col. Francis M. Wynkoop of Pennsylvania,
now deceased, (who was a Mason) commanded an expedition of 54 men, Texas
rangers, to operate against a band of guerrillas commanded by Pedro Jaronter who
was in league with Ex-president Gen. Valencia, then second in command of the
Mexican armies. Bro. Jas. Tilton, 1st lieutenant commanding Co. A., U. S.
Volunteers, Bro. E. A. Hanley. of Penn, deceased, then 1st lieutenant, 11th U.
S. Infantry, two Texas officers, immediately commanded said company and Lieut.
Perry of the navy accompanied said expedition. At 2 o'clock new year's morning,
January, 1848, they made an attack upon the headquarters of Gen. Valencia in an
old castle on his ranch some 38 miles north east of the city of Mexico. The
surprise was complete and Gen. Valencia and his son in law, Gen. Salas, adjutant
general of his staff, were taken from their beds and carried into the city of
Mexico as prisoners

p112 c1

The sword is that worn by Gen. Valencia and taken upon that occasion."
Mrs. Tilton also presented the lodge with a lock of George Washington's
hair. Like all other organizations Masonry has had its ups and downs that are
of no particular historic interest. In 1871, for reasons unimportant outside
the craft, another lodge was organized at Olympia and named Harmony No. 18 with
E. L. Smith as Master. The early records of the lodge were destroyed by fire in
1882, but the organization still continues.
In 1886, the Masons of the city organized Olympia chapter No. 7 of Royal
Arch Masons and in 1890 was constituted a Commandery of Knights Templars. In
1872 was Perfected the different organizations of the Scottish Rite and in 1894
was chartered a chapter of the order of the Eastern Star, a branch of the
Masonic order composed of the lady members of Masons' families.

ODD FELLOWS.
The initial organization of Odd Fellowship in Washington Territory was
made at Olympia, July 13, 1855, by C. C. Hewitt, acting as Deputy Grand Sire by
the authority of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United States, in a building
owned by George A. Barnes on First street west of Main. Victor Monroe was the
first Noble Grand, D. C. Beatty secretary and W. N. Ayer, treasurer, and the
lodge took the name of Olympia Lodge No. 1. The following December a committee
was appointed to consider the practicability of building a hall. For a few
years the lodge met in the building in the rear of Young's Hotel on Second
street but in 1857 returned to the Barnes building. In 1858 the lodge came
under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Oregon. During the subsequent

112 c2

years the members found it difficult to maintain its organization and through
mismanagement had become involved financially. In 1862 it surrendered its
charter to the Grand Lodge and its furniture was sold to pay its debts. During
the next five years, the Lodge was without an organization but in 1867 it was
reinstituted and held meeting temporarily over the Standard office but soon
occupied the Good Templars hall; and the prosperity of the lodge dates from this
reorganization.
In 1869 land for a cemetery was purchased of Ira Ward and W. H. Mitchell
to the south of Masonic cemetery east of Tumwater, and the present cemetery
platted.
In 1870 the lodge purchased a building on Washington street, erected in
1867 by C. C. and R. H. Hewitt.
On September 22, 1872, Western Lodge No. 6 was instituted with C. C.
Hewitt, Noble Grand, which continued its organization until 1888, when it united
with Olympia Lodge No. 1.
In 1874 Alpha Encampment was instituted and has since maintained its
organization.
A grand Lodge of Odd Fellows was formed in 1878 of the lodges in
Washington.
During the winter of 1887-8 a movement to erect an Odd Fellows Temple on
the corner of Main and Fifth streets was started and pushed to a successful
termination, the corner stone, being laid June 5, 1888, and the building
completed that year. Shortly after the erection of the temple, Ruth lodge No.
17 of the Daughters of Rebekah was organized by the ladies of Odd Fellows
families but it survived only a few years when it surrendered its charter.
During all these years Odd Fellowship has been a potent factor in
affording social occasions and in building a healthy moral and educational
sentiment.

p113 c1

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
On March 10, 1884, F. J. Alexander, acting as representative of the Grand
Chancellor instituted a lodge of Knight of Pythias in Olympia, known as Capitol
Lodge No. 15. It started out with twenty four members and had a rapid growth.
It held its meetings weekly in Odd Fellow's Hall until 1893 when it leased a
hall in the Stuart building on the corner of Main and Sixth streets.
In the winter of 1894 several of the members of the lodge withdrew, formed
a temporary organization and petitioned the Grand Chancellor for a dispensation.
For reasons immaterial in this connection the dispensation was refused but later
in the summer one was granted and the lodge instituted as Lincoln Lodge No. 104;
the grand lodge of 1894 issued it a charter. It held its meetings weekly in
Knights of Pythias Hall until August, 1895, when it moved into Odd Fellows hall.

GOOD TEMPLARS.
Tacoma Lodge No. 4, of the Independent Order of Good Templars was
organized August, 1866. Old, young and middle aged composed the enthusiastic
band that started out to fight King Alcohol. To aid them in their work The
Echo, a weekly paper was started and published by a committee of the lodge, in
connection with the Sons of Temperance. On January 1, 1869, D. Finch donated to
the Lodge a building standing on the corner of Fourth and Columbia streets, for
lodge purposes and also for the maintenance of a public library and reading
room, The lodge kept up its organization and maintained the reading room
continuously thereafter, although interest in the organization at times was
quite low. To assist in paying expenses the lodge room was leased for
miscellaneous purposes. In 1888 the suggestion arose that this

p113 c2

possibly broke the condition of Capt. Finch's donation. Parties interested in
the Collegiate Institute, an educational institution under the management of the
Methodist Episcopal church, then procured a quit claim deed to the property from
Mr. Finch and demanded possession. The Good Templars refused and suit for
possession was instituted by the trustees of the Collegiate institute. The
Superior court decided in favor of the Good Templars and on appeal, the decision
was affirmed by the supreme court. The lodge has been an active factor in
promoting a temperance sentiment in the county and enlists the efforts of
leading citizens.
In 1870 was formed the Grand Lodge whose jurisdiction included the lodges
of Washington and British Columbia.
In 1857 was organized a lodge of the Sons of Temperance.

ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.
A branch of this fraternal insurance order was instituted at Olympia in
February 1879. The lodge had a successful growth and is rated as one of the
best in the jurisdiction.
In 1893 was instituted a lodge of the Degree of Honor, which holds semi-
monthly meetings. It is a branch of the A. 0. U. W. to which the wives and
daughters of Workmen are eligible.

OTHER SOCIETIES.
In 1877 was incorporated a lodge of the Champions of the Red Cross, with
W. H. Roberts as commander. It was originally a temperance society, but soon
became a fraternal insurance order. The society erected a building on Fourth
street near Jefferson, the work being done by the members themselves; the ladies
also took a hand in lathing and painting. The lodge was maintained with
considerable interest for four or five years but finally interest lessened and
it became disorganized.

p114 c1

Other fraternal societies have been organized and liberally contributed to
the enjoyment of social occasions and the upbuilding of a moral and social
growth. George H. Thomas Post No. 5, of the Grand Army of the Republic was
organized in 1881; a branch order, the Woman's Relief Corps, in 1891; a camp of
the Sons of Veterans in 1891, and of the Daughters of Veterans in 1894; a lodge
of the Benevolent Order of Elks in 1890; of the Royal Society of Good Fellows in
1892; of the Foresters in 1890; of the Royal Arcanum in 1893; of the Woodmen of
the World

p114 c2

in 1894; of the National Union in 1894.
A social organization called the Potlatch club was organized in 1884. It
had rooms in the Horr Block on Main street and continued its existence until
1889.
In 1891 the Washington Club was incorporated and leased the second story
of the old Odd Fellows building. The financial depression that soon followed
made the burden of keeping the rooms open rather burdensome and interest in the
organization lessened although the incorporation still continues.

p115 c1

NEWSPAPERS.
It is with some difficulty that the material for a connected history of
the newspapers of Thurston county has been secured. None exists in the public
records and recourse must be had to the memories of the old settlers.
As has been before stated, the first newspaper published north of the
Columbia river was by T. F. McElroy and J. W. Wiley, September, 1852. The
motive of the publication was to advance the material growth of the Sound
country. This territory was then a part of Oregon and the Columbian at once
plunged into a fight for a new territory. Politically it advocated the
principles of the Whig party.
During the first year Mr. McElroy sold his interests to Mr. Wiley who soon
sold to Edward Furste. Furste soon tired of newspaper fame and sold to Matt K.
Smith. In December, 1853, Mr. Wiley bought it again, changed its name to the
Washington Pioneer and with its change of name came a change of political
affiliations, from Whig to Democratic.
In 1855, R. L. Doyle established the Northwest Democrat but it soon
consolidated with the Pioneer under the title, Pioneer and Democrat and for a
number of years had the public printing.
In November, 1860, John Miller Murphy, encouraged by leading Republicans of
Olympia, established the Washington Standard and at once plunged into the
political fight that was then going on in the nation. During the dark days of
the civil war it stood by the Union cause and gave

p115 c2

to the administration a loyal support. When the split in the Republican ranks
came, as a result of President Johnson's reconstruction policy the Standard
supported the Johnson wing of the party and in 1868 found itself supporting the
Democratic ticket. It has ever since been considered a Democratic organ.
Though other papers have come and gone, "rose, flourished and fell," as it were,
the Standard has never missed an issue, but with the regularity of the weeks has
been published every Friday night.
In November, 1860, the Pioneer and Democrat was sold to James Lodge and as
such it continued until after the incoming of the Republican administration when
it suspended publication.
At this time, 1861, there were published at Victoria two rival papers, the
Colonist and the Press. With the completion of a telegraph line from Portland
to Olympia the Colonist put on a special messenger. The steamer Major Tompkins
left Olympia for Victoria every Monday morning. The messenger would receive the
dispatches here Sunday night and leave on the boat Monday morning, editing them
on the trip. Upon arrival at Victoria they were in shape to enable the Colonist
to publish several hours in advance of the Press.
The agent of the Press in Olympia was A. M. Poe and not to be out done by
the Colonist he arranged with John Miller Murphy to put the dispatches in type
and print them as a Press supplement in time to be sent to Victoria by the
Monday morning steamer.

p116 c1

The scheme was so brilliant in design and so successfully executed that
Mr. Poe conceived the idea of a newspaper. The old Pioneer & Democrat Material
was still on the ground, and for sale. Poe bought it, including the old Ramage
press Mr. McElroy used in publishing the Columbian, and issued the Overland
Press as a rival to the Standard. Poe associated with himself J. W. Watson and
it successively passed into the possession of Wilson & Head and B. F. Kendall.
After the death of B. F. Kendall in 1862, L. G. Abbott and J. W. Watson, two
employees of Mr. Kendall, bought the office. In 1864 Watson sold his interest
to R. H. Hewitt and then went to Seattle, taking the old Ramage press. Abbott &
Hewitt continued the publication under the name of the Pacific Tribune and by
making a specialty of gathering war news worked up a good circulation. About
the close of the war Abbott sold his interest to Mr. Hewitt. In 1867 Hewitt
sold the plant to Thomas Prosch and established the Territorial Republican.
Clarence B. Bagley and S. Coulter soon bought the Republican, changed its name
to the Commercial Age and run it the next year as a campaign paper.
Mr. Prosch continued the publication of the Tribune and in 1867 issued a
daily edition. Becoming involved financially his office was sold at sheriff's
sale, the subscription book coming to the possession of Mr. Murphy of the
Standard. With the magnanimity of newspaper men Mr. Murphy returned him his
subscription list and loaned him his credit with a San Francisco house to assist
in purchasing new material. Mr. Prosch then continued the Tribune until the
next year when he moved the office to Tacoma.
During the early years of the war there was no Democratic paper published

p116 c2

in the territory through the lack of official patronage. However in 1864 Urban
E. Hicks established the Washington Democrat. Though it was a creditable
journal it buffeted the waves of adverse fortune only a year and suspended in
July 1865.
As those who are familiar with the political history of the country during
the troublesome years following the war can well imagine, the political
situation was decidedly interesting. There were parties and factions of
parties; there were radicals and conservatives; regulars and bolters. The
Standard had allied itself with the administration. Republican office holders
felt that Congress might yet come out on top and hesitated. In this condition
of politics the Territorial Republican was started, as has been stated.
S. A. Garfield was then surveyor general and a candidate for delegate to
Congress. In obtaining the Republican nomination he was successful but this
only increased the opposition to him. The bolters encouraged E. T. Gunn and J.
N. Gale to establish the Transcript, a radical Republican paper. Gale
afterwards sold to Gunn who published it until 1885, when he died; with his
death the Transcript suspended publication.
With the improvement in the industrial conditions of the period and the
indications the enterprise would be a success a committee of the Good Templars
and Sons of Temperance organizations in December, 1867, published a temperance
paper called the Echo. At the end of the first year the plant was bought by L.
G. Abbott and C. B. Bagley but Mr. Bagley soon sold his interest to J. H.
Munson. Abbott & Munson then published it until October 1870, when Munson
became the sole owner and L. P. Venen became associated with him as editor. In
November 1873, Munson sold the

p117 c1

Echo to J. N. Gale, a former publisher of the Transcript. The next year Gale
sold the paper to Francis Cook who changed it to a political paper, Republican,
and continued it until 1874, when he was forced out of business by a combination
of the publishers of the Standard and Courier.
In 1871 L. P. Beach and Gov. E. P. Ferry brought to Olympia from Port
Townsend the plant of the Puget Sound Courier. It was proposed to run a
metropolitan paper, to use brevier and nonpareil type and make the subscription
price $1. Mr. Beach, although a printer, was not a practical newspaper man, and
F. D. Loveridge of Chicago was imported to do the editorial work. His
management of the paper was short and he soon returned to the east. Mr. Beach
run the paper a year, when it was sold to C. B. Bagley.
In 1874 the Standard and Courier combined to publish a daily, the
Olympian. Ostensibly it was for boom purposes, but actually it was to freeze
out the Daily Echo then published by Francis A. Cook. The agreement between Mr.
Murphy of the Standard and Mr. Bagley of the Courier was that each should
publish it on alternate days and it to be strictly non partisan. On one
occasion, during Mr. Bagley's absence, he left his father to attend to the
Olympian and the next issue came out savoring strongly of Republican politics.
Mr. Murphy said nothing, but "sawed wood." The next morning the Olympian was
intensely Democratic, which so provoked Mr. Bagley that he took his material out
of the Standard office. The Olympian was in a fair way to collapse but the
thought that the Daily Echo had not yet been conquered, inspired them to again
unite and continue the morning paper. Later in the season, however, Mr. Murphy
retired and the publication

p117 c2

continued for a time by Mr. Bagley.
In 1884 Mr. Bagley sold the Courier plant to W. H. Roberts and F. A.
Dunham, who, in addition to publishing the Weekly Courier, issued for a time the
Daily Critic. The next year they sold the plant to Thomas H. Cavanaugh. Mr.
Cavanaugh at once plunged into politics and changed the name of the paper to
Republican Partisan and continued it as such until December, 1889, when it was
sold to the State Printing & Publishing Company, with 0. C. White, then
Territorial Secretary, as manager. During his publication of the Partisan Mr.
Cavanaugh did the Territorial printing. During the session of the first state
legislature Mr. White was appointed State Printer and very soon thereafter his
company sold the Partisan property to J. W. Robinson. Mr. Robinson, a lawyer,
placed Major C. M. Barton and H. L. Gill, both of Tacoma, as editor and business
manager respectively, changed the name to Tribune and established a daily, an
afternoon paper, which was continued until the spring of 1893.
In January 1874 R. H. Hewitt established the Northwest Farmer, an
agricultural paper but it was of only temporary existence.
In 1885 P. P. Carrol established the Republican but it, too, was short
lived.
In 1886 Prof. L. E. Follansbee, principal of the public schools, commenced
the publication of the Northwest Teacher, a monthly publication, devoted to the
interest of education. It continued until 1890.
In 1886 J. N. Gale, a former publisher of the Transcript and, later, of
the Echo, established the New Transcript, a weekly temperance paper. The
failing health of the publisher prevented the paper from achieving importance in
the newspaper, world

p118 c1

and in 1888 he sold the plant to H. W. Bessac. Mr. Bessac changed the name to
Review and in 1889 sold it to J. C. Rathbun who, in 1890, sold to B. M. Price.
During the fall of that year Mr. Price changed the name to the Capital and for a
few months issued an afternoon edition. From the time Mr. Bessac bought it, the
paper had been Republican in politics but in 1892 it espoused the principles of
the Peoples Party.
To assist in the immigration movement, in the winter of 1889 the real
estate men of the city contracted with the publisher of the Standard to issue an
afternoon edition for a period of six months and as a result the Evening
Olympian was published. At the time of the expiration of the contract the city
was in the midst of a campaign for the state capital. The Olympian had been a
potent factor in urging the advantages of Olympia during the summer and the
Board of Trade felt that its suspension at this time would be disastrous, and by
its assistance the paper was continued until after election.
In the fall of 1889 the Bucoda, Enterprise was established by R. F.
Pattison and J. W. Julian. Its publication was continued until the fall of 1894
when it suspended and the plant moved to Cosmopolis.
In the spring of 1890 the growing town of Tenino encouraged F. A. Dunham
to locate a paper there and as a result the Tenino Herald was born. It however
survived but a few months.
The same with the Gate City Graphic, a paper started in 1891 at Gate City
by J. H. Dowd.
In April 1891 the Morning Olympian was established by a company of
printers but was soon bought by Thomas Henderson Boyd, a well known newspaper
man of the state. Mr. Boyd made a staunch Republican paper of it. In December,
1892, he was

p118 c2

killed in Seattle. His administrator, E. T. Dunning of Tacoma, sold the plant
to J. O'B. Scobey and Geo. W. Hopp. These gentlemen also bought the Tribune of
J. W. Robinson and the publication became known as the Olympian-Tribune. After
the first year the word Tribune was dropped and the former name of Olympian
assumed.
In 1892, for a few months, was published the Church News by A. S. Gregg.
During the campaign of 1892 the Prohibition committee published the
Prohibitionist, a weekly publication advocating the election of the Prohibition
ticket.
With the opening of the city schools in September 1893 the students of the
High School began the monthly publication of the High School News, under the
management of Ernest G. Hartshorn with a corps of editors selected from the
students. In January 1894, Chauncey B. Rathbun became the publisher and
continued the paper until the end of the school year in June.
During the summer of 1894 began the publication of the Palladium by J. C.
Rathbun. A leading feature of the paper was the publication of consecutive
articles upon the history of Thurston county.
This summer, also, began the publication of the Journal of Education, a
monthly magazine devoted to education. Prof. Brintnall, president of the
Olympic University was the editor and publisher.
In the fall of the same year a split in the ranks of the Party occurred
and A. F. Booth was induced to publish the Appeal but it appeared only twice.
But the Populists ceased to be pleased with the Capital and in the spring
of 1895 the State was launched upon the newspaper waves.
It was followed a few weeks later, by the Bucoda Index, a weekly paper at
Bucoda by D. E. Vernon.

p119 c1

MANUFACTURES.
The history of the manufacturing industry in Thurston county is very
brief. Indeed there is doubt if it can be called a history. Preceding articles
contain a reference to most of the manufacturing institutions that have
originated, flourished and fell.
The first effort at manufacturing was made by Col. M. T. Simmons in the
summer of 1847. That year he erected a grist mill at the falls. It was built
in the crudest manner, as in the then unbroken forest, it was not possible to
get material and tools necessary to do the work according to improved methods.
In 1850 Alonzo Warren built a saw mill at Warren's point which he operated
until 1853.
In 1853 Captain S. W. Percival put in a small saw mill at the mouth of
Percival's creek on the west side and continued it for some years until the
accessible timber was manufactured. In 1856 Capt. Percival furnished the lumber
for the stockade on Fourth street. Both Warren's and Percival's mills had
single up and down saws and each would cut about 5000 feet per day.
In 1868 W. N. Horton secured the right to use the Wickoff augur in the
Pacific states and territories and began operations at Tumwater to manufacture
water pipe. In 1870 he associated with him C. H. Hale and S. D. Howe under the
name of Washington Water Pipe Manufacturing and Water Company. A system of
water works for the city was put in and maintained. But, whether through
mismanagement or too much name the company did not succeed and a few

p119 c2

years later Capt. Finch took hold of it but owing to a lack of population in
Western Washington and difficulties of transportation to points east, the
enterprise was not a paying one. In 1885 the Puget Sound Pipe Company was
organized and capitalized at $50,000 and purchased the machinery of the old
factory together with Mr. Horton's patent and located in East Olympia. The
company consisted of John Corkish, A. T. Rogers, E. S. Hamlin and C. Z. Mason,
who have constituted the company since and are now doing a flourishing business.
The rawhide chairs so common in Olympia are of the make of T. P. Speek.
In the sixties Mr. Speek located at Tumwater had a turning lathe with which he
made the posts and rounds. The side pieces were shaved out and the frame work
put together by hand. For the seat he used any and all kinds of hides, the only
preparation the hide was subjected to being the removal of the hair. It was
then trimmed to a circular form, spread out on a table and by a sharp knife
imbedded in the table the hide was cut into one long strip by revolutions, the
knife being so set that it cut a strip about one quarter inch wide. These
strips of leather were made soft and pliable, then woven on the frame work of
the chair, forming the seat.
Mr. Speek made two styles of chair, the common table chair and an arm
chair. The latter were somewhat larger but in general make were similar to the
table chair, except that the front posts extended about six inches above the
seat, and an arm piece

p120 c1

reaching from the top of each front post to a back post. The chairs were easily
made and had a great sale, selling at $1.25 each. The wood used was the vine
maple.
Mr. Speek subsequently sold the business to A. W. Pressy who continued the
manufacture in much the same manner as Mr. Speek. Mr. Pressy introduced an
improvement in the armchair by turning the side pieces forming the framework of
the seat, and substituting them for the flat, slightly beveled pieces used by
Speek. He also substituted a curved armpiece to the armchair for the straight
cross bar introduced by Speek.
Samples of the three kinds of chairs above described may now be seen in
all parts of Olympia.
In 1871, Leonard, Crosby & Cooper established a sash, door and blind
factory at Tumwater, where also in 1862 George H. White established a book
bindery.
In the same year Biles & Carter established

p120 c2

a tannery at the lower falls which did a fair business for several years.
The first attempt at systematic logging in Thurston county was by Isaac
Ellis in 1868 who logged off the west side. Prior to that time the timber cut
was in close proximity to the mill and when that was gone the mill shut down.
Shingle mills have been established at inland points of late years and at
accessible points on the railroad. Tenino, Ranier, [Rainier] Gate City,
Rochester, South Bay, Maxfield and other points have small manufacturing plants
while Bucoda has the extensive works of the Seatco Manufacturing Company.
A mention of the mills in the city of Olympia has been made. Since they
first began sawing lumber they have kept pace with the increase in business and
the improvements in machinery and now constitute the main source of revenue for
the city.

p121 c1

SETTLEMENTS.
Most of the early settlements of the county have heretofore been
incidentally referred to, but a more special reference will be found of
interest.
Previous to 1852 the work of developing the county was principally
confined to the efforts at Olympia and Tumwater. The settlements on Bush
Prairie and Chambers' Prairie prior to 1850 have been published.
Grand Mound Prairie is the largest tract of natural clearing in the
county. It lies to the southwest of Olympia about fifteen miles and is of a
rich,
sandy loam.
The pioneer settler on this prairie was Samuel James in 1852. He was
followed the same year by L. D. Durgin, Josephus Axtell, J. W. Goodell and E. N.
Sargent. In 1853 James Biles and C. B. Baker located in the new settlement. In
1855 a school house was built and the growth of the settlement has been similar
to that of other agricultural communities.
In 1851 W. 0. Thompson located on Black Lake and for several winters
taught school in different districts in the western part of the county. Enoch
Hart located on his claim near Black Lake the same year.
With these settlements, came post offices and there sprang up the towns of
Rochester, Little Rock and Gate City. The latter, however, is of recent birth.
In 1891 when the Northern Pacific railroad company extended its line to Gray's
Harbor its junction with the Chehalis and Black Rivers was thought to be an
eligible site for a city and in 1890 S. C. Woodruff platted the town of Gate
City. It gave

p121 c2

promise of being an inland town of no insignificant importance, it being located
in the midst of fine farming lands and contiguous to the mammoth forests of the
Black Hills, but the financial panic of 1893 impeded its growth.
In 1852 Wm. McLane located on land near the head of Mud Bay and has
resided there ever since.
Tenalquot Prairie, south east of Olympia, early attracted the attention of
pioneers. Thomas W. Glascow and Thomas Linklighter [Linklater] settled there in
1847 but not until the organization of the county, in 1852, did its settlement
really begin. In 1853 Hon. Frank Ruth settled on the farm he now owns.
In 1850 George Edwards and John Edgar settled on Yelm Prairie and were
followed in 1851 by James Longmire and James Burns.
In 1853 Thomas Hines took a donation claim about six miles east of
Olympia, near the shore of a small lake. He commenced to drain the lake but was
impoverished by the Indian War. He located in town and pursued his trade of
shoemaker until 1862 when he returned to his farm. He died in 1879.
The first settlement on South Bay was by Dr. Johnson in 1851 who took a
claim at the point, since known as Johnson's Point. In 1852 A. J. Frazier took
a donation claim on the west side of the bay and was followed the same summer by
Levi Knott and Dr. Willard. In 1853 C. H. Sylvester located his present farm.
In 1860 settlements were made beyond Bush Prairie, at what is now

p122 c1

Plumb Station. A. B. Rabbeson took a claim there.
The settlements in the county outside of Olympia and Tumwater that have
achieved a commercial importance are Tenino and Bucoda. In 1852 Stephen Hodgson
took a donation claim on a prairie about fifteen miles south of Olympia and was
followed by Samuel Davenport who took the claim adjoining. Samuel Coulter also
settled in the neighborhood. In 1854 I. Colvin located to the southwest of
them.
The settlement grew in much the same manner as others. The first marriage
was solemnized in 1853, that of Samuel Coulter and Miss Lizzie Tillie. In 1872
the Northern Pacific railway laid its Portland and Tacoma line across this
portion of the county and located a station near their farms and named it
Tenino. "Tenino" is an Indian word signifying "Junction" The junction referred
to was that of the old military roads. During the Indian War a military road
was laid from Fort Vancouver up the Cowlitz valley and then over to Fort
Steilacoom. Near the farms of Hodgson and Davenport it forked and a branch came
in to Olympia and in Chinook jargon this fork was called a "Tenino." Later the
citizens of Olympia projected and built the narrow gauge road and connected with
the Northern Pacific at that place. Its importance in a commercial way began in
1888 when its magnificent stone quarries became known. Outcroppings of stone
were found in the hills south of the prairie, on land owned by C. A. Billings
and as it became uncovered and examined it was found to be a superior building
stone. In 1890 Mr. Billings associated with him S. W. Fenton and George P.
Vantine and extensive facilities for quarrying the stone were put in. In the
spring of 1895 Mr. Billings sold his interest to Messrs. Fenton and Vantine.

122 c2

With the opening of the stone quarry began the growth of a lively village.
In 1890 the Presbyterians erected a church building. One was built by the
Catholics the same year. In 1891 the old school house was deemed insufficient
and the district issued and sold bonds for the purpose of building a new one.
Several private enterprises were projected and buildings erected.
With the transfer of the narrow guage railroad from the Olympia and
Chehalis Valley Railroad Company to Port Townsend & Southern and the change to a
standard guage, came a relocation of the depot grounds to a point about a half
mile west of town. Buildings were erected at the new location but the collapse
of the boom soon afterwards prevented the growth of any business around the
depot.
In 1891 was organized a lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen; in
1892 a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and the same year a chapter of the
Order of the Eastern Star. The Tenino Herald, a weekly newspaper, was
established there in the spring of 1890 but it collapsed with the suspension of
prosperous times.
Several manufacturing plants have been established at Tenino. T. J.
McClellan & Son have a shingle mill in the village and Mentzer Brothers one a
mile east of the town. In 1894 the Tenino Creamery Company was organized for
the purpose of developing the dairy industry.

BUCODA.
The first settler on a small prairie four miles from Tenino was Aaron
Webster who came to the Sound country from Oregon in 1854. The stream was
called by the Indians Skookumchuck. [Skookumchuck] Mr. Webster took a quarter
section of land as a donation claim in 1856, and located the quarter section
adjoining with a land warrant that he bought of James Tilton. The latter

p123 c1

piece includes the present coal mines. Other early settlers in the neighbor
hood were P. D. Northcraft in 1854. A Mr. Frost settled on Frost's Prairie,
between Bucoda and Tenino, in 1851.
In 1857 Mr. Webster built a saw mill on the river. This he sold to Jacob
D. Bolander and William McElroy in 1867. They ran it two years and sold it to
Oliver Shead, Wm. McElroy and Gen. T. I. McKenny.
The first marriage in the settlement was in April 1861, that of Aaron
Webster to Miss Sarah M. Yantis, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Mr.
Harper, a Baptist minister. The first birth was a daughter to Mr. and Mrs.
Webster, born February 2, 1862, and named Annie Cora. In 1879 she was married
to James Wolf and died November 1887.
The town was -named "Seatco" by Oliver Shead who bought the Webster claim
in 185-. "Seatco" is a Chinook word meaning "ghost" or "devil."
About 1873 Samuel Coulter, J. B. David, an Oregon capitalist, who had
become associated with Mr. Coulter in the coal lands, and Wm. Buckley, a
Northern Pacific man, met and determined to name the railroad station. Shead's
name of Seatco was not satisfactory and they coined a new word by taking the
first two letters of each of their own names: Bu-Co-Da. in 1887 the town was
platted by Shead and given the name Seatco. This name it retained until 1890
when by act of the legislature it was changed to Bucoda
In 1874 Seatco became a town of state importance. Prior to that time
there had been no territorial penitentiary and but few counties had jails:
Clark, Jefferson, Pierce, Thurston and Walla Walla. When a party was convicted
of a felony the judge directed in what jail he should be incarcerated. In 1874
Wm. Billings, sheriff of Thurston county, and Jerry Smith, sheriff of Pierce
county, each had a

p123 c2

proposition before the legislature to take the prisoners and use their labor.
To avoid a contest Mr. Smith withdrew his proposition and took a half interest
with Mr. Billings and Billings was awarded the contract. A capitalist was then
needed to put up the building. The party was found in Oliver Shead who
furnished the money for a one-third interest in the enterprise. A mill was
built on the Skookumchuck, near the old mill built by Webster, and lumber sawed
for a penitentiary.
The building was made of 3 x 12 fir plank piled up and thoroughly spiked
together, thus making walls twelve inches thick pretty well filled with spikes.
Partitions for the cells were built of 3 x 6's in the same way. The entrance
was by a stairway from the outside to the second story, then stairs to the
ground floor where the cells were, no outside door being in the lower story. In
the second story were the kitchen, dining room and rooms for the guards. This
was continued as the territorial prison until 1888 when one was built at Walla
Walla and the convicts removed thereto. The old building still stands in much
the same condition it was when vacated by the convicts. Soon after the
penitentiary was completed Fred. W. Brown became interested in the saw mill of
Shead, Billings & Smith and a sash and door factory was added. In 1885 the mill
was sold to Whittier, Fuller & C., a firm that was doing a general lumber
business on the Pacific coast. In 1888 they sold to the Seatco Manufacturing
Company, composed of Wisconsin lumberman of which E. F. Garland was president
and Francis Rotch, secretary. The capacity of the works was greatly increased
and the mill made one of the largest in the Sound country. In 1892 their mill
took fire and burned but was soon rebuilt by

p124 c1

the company.
Though coal was known to lie imbedded in the hills east of Seatco nothing
was done to develop the mines until 1886. the first work having been done by
Thomas Ismay. A company was then organized by Samuel Coulter, Oliver Shead,
Fred W. Brown and J. B. David. The mine was found to contain a good quality of
coal. In 1889 one J. B. Doa became interested in the company. The mine was
worked for a few years when dissensions arose among the owners and the works
shut down.
Thos. Ismay was appointed receiver by the federal court in 1893. Matters
were somewhat more complicated in 1894 by the death of Mr. Doa. Concerning the
details of the litigation

p124 c2

the public knows little, further than that the mines are lying idle. It is
known to be a good property and taken in connection with the extensive
manufacturing works form the nucleus of an inland city that is destined to be
one of importance.
Bucoda has three churches: the Methodist, organized in 1889, the Episcopal
organized in 1894 and the Christian organized the same year. Only the first has
a building of its own.
In 1891 was organized a lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and a
lodge of the Degree of Honor and in November 1892 a lodge of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. An eight roomed school building was erected in 1891.

p125 c1

CONCLUSION.
So much for the past! What about tile future? Just as Michael T.
Simmons, as he blazed his way through the primeval forests in 1845, could not
see the Thurston county of today, so none of us today can lift the veil of years
and peer into the future.
What exhultation must have welled up in the breast of this hardy pioneer
when he reached the falls at New Market and there burst upon his astonished
vision the panorama spread out before him! To the right rose old Ranier,
[Rainier] whose grandeur and magnificence then, as now, excited wonder and
admiration. At his feet tumbled the roaring cataract and beyond lay the Avatars
of Budd's Inlet, unruffled except by the gentle zephyr or the Indians small
canoe. In the distant background ranged the proud Olympics; while all around
him, east, west, north and south, towering skywards hundreds of feet, were
forests of mammoth fir and stately cedar, clothed in their garbs of living
green. Well might all these conspire to arouse in the mind of this man feelings
of surprise, pleasure and sublimity, not essentially different front those which
enthused that ancient Israelite when, from Nebo's lofty summit he first beheld
the Promised Land.
Though Thurston county has seen the management of its affairs pass from
one generation to another the recent transition of Washington from Territory to
State, throws upon those now here, the responsibility in a measure, of starting
anew. Doubtless the last is full of mistakes, but let them be guides for the
future. The prudent

p125 c2

business man does not make the same mistake a second time. There are men and
women who are always looking backward, scolding about the mistakes that have
been made, and in their miserable way hinder those who are carrying forward the
noble work of progress. Thurston county has no use for such. But for those who
wish to see gathered around the headwaters of Puget Sound agricultural
communities, manufacturing plants and educational institutions, even vying with
ancient Rome as she sat on her seven hills, the future affords abundant promise.
A brief epitome of the advantages of Thurston county and Olympia will be
proper in this place.
In general a permanent city must be a community relying upon either
agriculture, manufacturing, mining or commerce for its existence.

AGRICULTURE.
Tributary to Olympia are numerous fertile valleys and rich acres of
rolling prairie. The former are especially adapted to the growing of vegetables
and the smaller fruits and the yield of either is enormous. Truck gardening is
profitable and the smaller fruits will yield the industrious farmer not far from
$500 per acre annually. The bottom lands of the valleys produce an enormous
yield of the sugar beet. Some of the prairie land is of a gravely nature
adapted to most kinds of fruit but very much of it is a mixture of sand and loam
which, when brought under subjection, produces an excellent yield of the smaller
grains and is easily cultivated.

p126 c1

The different varieties of clover and other hay grasses grow luxuriantly in the
valleys and on the hill sides. It is not a stock raising section as that term
is used when speaking of the prairie states, but stock farming and dairying can
be pursued here with profit. Apples, pears, prunes, plums and cherries yield
abundantly and are subject to fewer fruit pests than in most localities.
Olympia is already of importance as a fruit shipping point and as young orchards
come into bearing this item in commerce will become more important. Within the
county are hundreds of acres of hops.
The climate is favorable to nearly all lines of agricultural pursuits.
The extremes of heat and cold do not occur. The ground does not parch in summer
and very little snow falls in winter. Wild flowers bloom, probably, ten months
in the year and stock graze on the open range in January and in June.
The county contains eligible sites for cheese factories, creameries, fruit
canning establishments, commission houses and kindred institutions.

MANUFACTURING.
No point has better natural advantages for manufacturing institutions than
Olympia. Within the city are hundreds of acres of tide lands or mud flats.
Outside these flats are fifteen miles of deep water shore line. Under the
liberal policy of the federal government, in improving rivers and harbors, a
channel is cut from deep water to the center of the city of sufficient depth and
width to permit the entrance of ocean steamers. This will be widened and other
channels cut. The flats adjacent will be dyked and filled in with the
dredgings. There will thus be built up numerous acres of eligible sites for
factories of every kind. The adjacent table lands afford beautiful sites for
homes. Contiguous to the city are virgin forests

126 c2

were never yet resounded the echo of the woodman's axe. The qualities of fir,
cedar and spruce used for building materials are inexhaustible, while on the
bottom lands grow softer woods, like alder, cherry, maple, etc., that can be
utilized for furniture, pails, tubs and wooden toys. Fuel for manufacturing and
also for domestic purposes is easily obtainable. Besides the waste woods in
manufacturing, there is the bark of the fir tree which, when dry, rivals coal as
a generator of beat. Extensive coal fields are in the southeastern part of the
county, to say nothing of the coal content of the hills yet unopened. The falls
of Tumwater are a succession of three falls aggregating a total descent of
eighty-two feet to the waters of the Sound. With perhaps two exceptions, this
is the best water power in Washington and is the only one in the state on tide
water. Four miles from Olympia and at an elevation of 133 feet above tide water
is Black Lake, three miles long by three-quarters of a mile wide. At a
comparatively small cost a canal can be cut from the lake to salt water and by
the use of gates and flumes, create a water power of an immense capacity.
The opportunities for exporting the manufactured products are both rail
and water. The merchant marine of the world can be accommodated in Puget Sound
and the deep water of Budd's Inlet is sufficient to accommodate all vessels that
might desire to load at our wharves. The trackage facilities give easy ingress
and egress to any number of railway trains that might compete for the
transportation of our products to eastern or southern markets.

MINING.
It would not be proper to emphasize Olympia as a "mining town," but the
coal beds adjacent demand that the mining industry be mentioned in this

127 c1

connection. Olympia is the seaport nearest the coalfields that are now open-
those at Bucoda- with a rail communication between them. The same is true of
the quarries of building stone at Tenino, both places in Thurston County. This
stone is an excellent article for building, and as stone supplants brick as a
building material, it will cause a very material increase in the business of
Olympia's banking and mercantile houses. The contents of the hills west and
northwest of Olympia, still covered with the primitive forest, are utterly
unknown. Further explorations will doubtless open other coal beds and stone
quarries, to say nothing of the tin, iron, silver or gold mines that may yet
reward the ambitious prospector.

COMMERCE.
Take a, birds-eye view of western Washington. Carefully note the location
of the larger streams, the valleys and the prairie lands; the mountains of
mineral and the forests of timber. Note, too, that dividing this vast area is
an inlet from the ocean, not dissimilar to those gulfs and bays and seas around
which gathered the maritime greatness of the ancient world. Glance backward now
and note where sat the ancient marts of commerce. Glance now at modern
geography; where is London, St. Petersburg, New York, New Orleans, Chicago,
Duluth? Glance again, at western Washington and answer, where will sit the
mistress of Puget Sound commerce? Will it not be at the Head of Navigation?
Sitting at Olympia, the proud mistress of this western Mediterranean can
have poured into her lap the surplus products of the mines, the mills, the
forests and the fields of the great Olympic peninsula, extending north- westerly
to the Straits of Fuca, and the traffic on the east between the Cascade
mountains and the Sound, will be

p127 c2

largely under her control. Here again with transcendent importance comes in the
large area of tide lands. The wharves of the Sound's future cities will be
built of stone, at a great cost. In the race for commercial supremacy the city
that can furnish a maximum area of wharf at a minimum cost for masonry will have
a decided advantage over her rivals. A water front that can maintain two acres
of wharf by building 100 cubic yards of stone can offer to commercial factors
inducements vastly superior to those places where 100 cubic yards of masonry
represent only a quarter-acre of wharf.
At Olympia, the distance between the channel dredged by the federal
government and the hill on either side is fully 2000 feet. The channel will be
about one mile in length and we thus have an area on each side of over 200
acres. The railway tracks will be along the shore lines of the bay. The
vessels will occupy the channel. The space between, after allowing for
factories, will be sufficient for wharf facilities of a great metropolis and
presents an inducement to commercial interests that can be duplicated by few, if
any other, points on Puget Sound waters.
The depth of water in Budd's Inlet is favorable to safe anchorage and is
protected from storms; while to the south of Fourth street bridge, or at any of
many other eligible points, may be built dry docks at comparatively small cost.
Until masonry takes the place of piling in the construction of wharves
salt water commerce will be subject to the depredations of the toredo. This
worm does not work in fresh water. On each side of Olympia, entering the waters
of Budd's Inlet from the hills on either side, are numerous fresh water streams,
one of which, the Des Chutes [Deschutes] river, is fed by the constant

p128 c1

melting snows which crown Mount Rainier. Besides these streams, gushing and
sparkling springs bedeck the lines of hills. As the flowing tide comes in,
there streams and springs greatly neutralize the briny waters of the sea. This
impedes the work of the toredo and, as a result, piling at Olympia lasts longer
than at other Sound points.
The waters of Puget Sound are rich in food fishes of many varieties. The
different methods of preserving these fishes is already of commercial importance
to the state. The favored location and favored facilities of Olympia give
emphasis to the statement that here is where canning, smoking, salting in tubs
and dry-salting of fishes can be engaged in with profit.
The clam and oyster are found in the coves and bays of Thurston county,
oftimes in great quantities. With improved methods of treatment- the careful
and scientific cultivation of the beds by intelligent white men supplanting the
rude and awkward treatment given by the Indian- there is little reason why the
oyster industry at Olympia may not be of as much commercial importance as it is
to many Atlantic cities. It is quite probable that, with proper management, the
eastern oyster and the eastern clam can be transplanted to the waters at the
head of Puget Sound and attain the growth and flavor that characterize them in
their eastern homes. When this is done the estuaries adjacent to Olympia will
contain beds of these mollusks, of incalculable importance to commerce and,
alone, will give Olympia a commercial prestige, rivaling even Baltimore and Long
Island Sound.

OTHER ADVANTAGES.
An abstract of federal land laws, showing how easily, agricultural,
timber, stone or mineral lands may be secured is hardly practical in this

p128 c2

connection. It is sufficient to state that these laws are exceedingly liberal
to those seeking homes or those seeking investments. A United States land
office is in Olympia where information can be obtained and filings made at a
minimum cost. In Thurston county are thousands of acres of virgin soil and
virgin forests awaiting the plouwshare and the axe. To the man in possession of
all his faculties here lie opportunities that need only to be improved in order
to surround one with ease and independence.
The county has a system of public schools that is unsurpassed in older
states. The teachers are recognized as among the leading educators of the
state. The school buildings are commodious edifices and furnished with modern
school house improvements. The people are loyal to the schools and sustain the
authorities in their efforts to maintain the schools at a high standard.
The surrounding topography peculiarly fits Olympia for beautiful
residences. The hills on the east, south and west rise above the hum, the smoke
and the turmoil of the business and industrial quarters. An extended plateau on
each of the three sides overlooks the city, overlooks each other and commands a
fine view of the bay and the white capped mountains. Graded streets sidewalks
and street car lines bring a residence lot in any of these quarters within easy
access to the business center of the city. A home with surroundings like these
cannot fail to cultivate those finer sensibilities of human nature that tend to
make one grand and noble- proud that his lot has been cast in such a place.
To those citizens of the county upon whom devolves the duty of maintaining
that prestige to which the political and geographical position of

p129 c1

Thurston county entitle her a few central ideas arc suggested around which their
thoughts, hopes and aspirations should center.
1. When the eastern citizen gathers courage to break loose from life long
association and locates in Thurston county, he can make no greater mistake than
to ignore the dignity of labor. Whether he locates in the country and engages
in developing the magnificent agricultural and manufacturing possibilities of
the county or in the city and enters upon a business or professional life he
must not rest under the hallucination that prosperity comes to him who does not
toil. Instances may be cited of fortunes being made in Western Washington by a
stroke of chance but they are not the kind of fortunes a new country relies upon
for its prosperity.
2. To constitute good citizenship there must be loyalty to home
institutions. The man who risks his labor and his labor and his means in
developing the resources of his locality should expect a reasonable cooperation
of his neighbors. He is not a good citizen who refuses that cooperation.
3. A government "by the people" is a failure if the citizens do not take
an active interest in local affairs. The west contains many adventurers who
"toil not, neither do they spin." The good citizen looks to it that integrity
and ability fills the public offices. Too often in a new country does the
slogan, "a public office is a public trust," become in practice, "a public
office is a private ship."
4. Just as the rivulet from the spring on the hillside fertilizes and
irrigates the valleys below, so from the state system of free schools flow those
streams of independent thought and act so essential to the moral, intellectual

p129 c2

and industrial growth of every community within the state. While private
schools in their way are doing good, they cannot for lack of means, do the work
expected of an educational system. So upon our free schools must the people of
Washington rely for prosperity along all lines of good government.
Thus within a limited space would be narrated the events of our first half
century; the natural advantages of Thurston county as they exist today and as
they have existed since the cupidity of man prompted him to open up a
civilization in these forests; thus would be narrated the artificial advantages
of enterprises, societies, churches and schools, and thus would be unrolled the
scroll of years and there be taken a prospective look to what, under the
stimulus of western thrift and energy, these natural and artificial advantages
will lead us to. Our visions may not be realized; their luster may be eclipsed
by case and indolence, but such will not be through a lack of opportunities.
Here are in close proximity more than a medial of the essential elements of
commercial greatness. Here is a land locked harbor affording safety from
oceanic storms. Here are pure water, fertile lands, rich mines and a salubrious
climate. Here is a people whose intelligence, industry, thrift, toleration and
loyalty to home, country and Creator are not surpassed in any locality within
the broad domain of civilized life. An immigrant or investor not satisfied with
these would be displeased if offered the earth.
And now, with a reliance upon the accuracy of this delineation, it is
commended to the consideration of those who would know the past of the first
settlement on grand old Puget Sound.

p130 c1

ERRATA AND ADDENDA.
Proof sheets of the preceding pages were submitted to a few of the early
settlers of the county and with their aid some new matter has been elicited, not
so much, however, as was hoped for.

Page 52- Columbia engine company started out with a subscription list and
raised among themselves about $1000 and from outsiders enough to make a list of
about $1700. The engine company had the plan of the present building drawn by
Harvey Clark and Chas. Seymour and then offered to turn over the plan and list
to the town if the town would furnish the balance of the funds and erect the
building. The board accepted the proposition.

Page 60- The Burmeister building at the corner of Third and Main streets
was not the one now standing, The building of 1862 was frame and was burned in
the fire of 1879. The present building was erected in 1884.

Page 64- The block house stood at the corner of Main and Eighth streets,
near the site now occupied by the Hotel Olympia, instead of at the corner of
Main and Thirteenth.

Page 74.- On January 7, 1879, occurred a heavy fall of snow that broke
down awnings and many small buildings. Among the larger buildings that yielded
to its tremendous pressure was the surveyor-general's office, on Main street,
between Seventh and Eighth, and the sawmill of W. H. Mitchell on the site now
occupied by the Olympia. Door & Lumber Company.

p130 c2

Young timber too was destroyed by its great weight.

Page 75- The colony known as the Newell colony did not come with Gov.
Newell, but came the spring before, entirely independent of his coming. For
some unexplained reason it took the name of Newell colony. It consisted of
twenty-two persons: Gustav Lindquist, Jos. Raisbeck, Olav Frisch, Oliver Matson,
James Quigley, and their families, and Henry Stenner and Fred Nitschke, single
men. Nor did they return east after abandoning their claims.

Page 78 E. A. Stevens was agent for the Wells, Fargo Express Company
instead of the Adams'.

Page 84- The Republican candidate for joint representative was T. M. Reed
Jr.

Page 98- During the fall of 1891 Dr. Campbell. a blind physician of the
Thompsonian school, treated a young lady of Olympia, named Linton, who was
troubled with epileptic fits. He administered lobelia and capsicum, the
medicines of his school. She steadily declined until death ensued. The doctor
was charged with murder and after a protracted trial, lasting two weeks, was
acquitted.

Page 106- The year that Dr. McCarty held church service in Olympia was
1854.

Page 119- T. B. Speek resided on a farm on Tenalquot prairie where he made
his chairs- not at Tumwater,

Page 120- Biles & Carter's tannery was established at Tumwater in 1859.

p131 c1

1895
But little need be added to complete the record of 1895.
The matter uppermost in the minds of the people was the construction of a
new capitol. The legislature of this year appropriated $1,000,000 for a new
building, to be paid out of a fund derived from the sale of lands granted by the
federal government for such a public building. Bids for the building of the
superstructure were called for to be opened August 19, but the bids then
received were thrown out, all being for more than the commission was authorized
by the legislature to pay. November 19 was set for again opening bids. On that
day five bids were opened and all rejected.
The details of the work preliminary to the construction of the capitol
constitute a lengthy chapter properly belonging to the history of the State, but
the laborers, business men, and farmers of the county are anxious to have work
progress that the enormous weight of the "hard times" may be lightened. The
people have failed to appreciate the various trials of the capitol commission in
awarding a contract- trials that are made greater because of the financial
depression.
The case appealed to the supreme court involving the right of the county
commissioners to create an Incidental Fund was decided adversely to the county.
The commissioners, however, did not abandon their effort to pay cash and adopted
the system of drawing short-time warrants on the tax levy of 1895, with the
expectation that they will be paid in advance of all outstanding warrants which,
it is generally understood, were issued after the county had reached its legal
limit of indebtedness.

p131 c2

On October 14 the citizens of the county were greatly pained to learn of
the death of ex-Governor E. P. Ferry, which occurred at Seattle early that
morning of pneumonia.
In September occurred the death of Geo. D. Shannon, a pioneer of Thurston
county, who owned an extensive ranch on the Nisqually bottoms.
During the year there appeared a revival in the lumber business. The
mills were generally starting and the demand for logs afforded a happy relief
from the depression of a few years ago.
At the annual city election in December Charles H. Ayer was elected mayor;
F. G. Blake, treasurer; R. A. Graham, clerk; A. J. Falknor, attorney; Dr.
Newell, health officer; Geo. Scofield, councilman-at-large; George Forbes,
councilman from the First Ward; T. C. Van Epps from the Third Ward, and G. M.
Savage from the Fifth Ward.
During the year an added interest was taken in horticulture, induced
largely through the efforts of the County Horticultural Society. An increased
acreage was planted and strenuous efforts made to impede the ravages of fruit
pests. R. H. Hannah was appointed county fruit inspector, and through his
efforts old orchards were disinfected.

The river Deschutes was named by M. T. Simmons, the Indian name for the
stream being Pacalups.
The Indian name for the prairie called Chamber's Prairie, ever since its
settlement, was Elcumen.
The Indian name for the little village called Smithfield, and afterwards
Olympia, was Chithoot.

END